The Vancouver Canucks have been a persistently inconsistent group this season, sporting a document of 9-5-3 (21 factors) of their first 17 video games. Whereas they’re presently in a playoff spot and some video games above 500, they haven’t regarded like a contender or anyplace near the dominant group they have been in 2023-24 once they picked up 50 wins and received the Pacific Division. You may level the blame at many issues (and other people), however in the long run, they’re simply not taking part in stable sufficient hockey to be thought-about something however a borderline playoff group at this level.
Associated: Rick Tocchet’s Feedback Present Canucks Are Not Assembly His Requirements
It’s not all doom and gloom, although, as some gamers have stepped up in current video games – particularly a few Swedes – one up entrance and one on the backend. Let’s dive into the primary regular-season version of Canucks’ 3 Up, 3 Down to seek out out who they’re.
One of many positives to return out of this homestand is the return of Elias Pettersson. Whereas he has performed in all 17 video games thus far, followers have solely actually seen the participant who deserves to be paid $11.6 million for seven video games this season. After beginning with just one aim and 4 factors in his first 10 video games, he has turned the nook offensively and has 5 objectives and 7 factors in his final seven. His elite wrist shot and one-timer have seemingly returned, and he has pressured the difficulty in all three zones, displaying a Selke Trophy-like two-way recreation that has eluded him for some time now.
Pettersson has additionally discovered other ways to attain objectives, utilizing his hand-eye coordination to tip a couple of pucks by goaltenders whereas additionally expertly screening them. Backside line, Petey is again to being that slick Swede Canucks Nation fell in love with when he joined the group in 2018-19. Now, hopefully, he can keep that method for the remainder of the season.
Minus One: JT Miller Struggling to Discover His Two-Approach Sport, Benched Towards the Predators
Sadly, the return of Pettersson has additionally seen the disappearance of J.T. Miller, properly not less than the two-way behemoth we noticed final season. He does have 16 factors in 17 video games, and 6 in his final 5, however alongside that, he has not regarded good defensively and appears to have misplaced the boldness of his head coach. Rick Tocchet benched him within the third interval towards the Nashville Predators on Sunday, together with his group trailing 4-2. You’d assume Miller could be logging a ton of minutes in that scenario given his offensive prowess, however the 103-point man from final season solely noticed two shifts within the ultimate body ending with a season-low 11:41 of ice time.
“I appreciated our 5-on-5. Penalty kill wasn’t good and that was the distinction within the recreation…I appreciated the trouble within the third, got here again, had the puck so much. That’s a very good optimistic.”
🗣 Head Coach Rick Tocchet discusses tonight’s recreation towards the Predators.#Canucks | @theprovince pic.twitter.com/ZxI3EGlqVe
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 18, 2024
Tocchet was fairly curt after the sport when requested about Miller saying, “I simply went with the blokes that I believed may get us again within the recreation.” He additionally responded with a fast “no” on whether or not it was on account of Miller being injured.
Watching the sport, it’s straightforward to see why the benching was warranted as Miller was largely invisible offensively and noticed his three-game level streak snapped. He additionally was held with no shot and struggled to include the Predators’ energy play, displaying a lackluster effort on the sequence that led to Steven Stamkos’ second aim of the sport, directing visitors reasonably than aggressively attacking the puck provider. Often, he responds positively to Tocchet’s powerful love, so I might count on a greater recreation from him on Tuesday towards the group that drafted him, the New York Rangers.
Plus Two: Erik Brannstrom Has Discovered a Residence on the Canucks’ Blue Line
When the Canucks acquired Erik Brannstrom from the Colorado Avalanche and instantly positioned him on waivers, I don’t assume many individuals thought he would ultimately turn into an element on the blue line. However that’s precisely what he has executed, and possibly deserves extra minutes than he’s receiving proper now. Since taking part in his first recreation on Oct. 17 towards the Florida Panthers, he has steadily improved and added one other dimension to the defence. His mobility, edgework and passing are akin to Quinn Hughes, and whereas his talent set is just not at a Norris Trophy stage just like the Canucks captain, he has made a distinction in how the Canucks transfer the puck by the impartial zone. He has additionally added some offence with two objectives and 6 factors in 14 video games.
After 266 video games in Ottawa burdened with being the centerpiece of the Mark Stone commerce, Brannstrom has discovered a house with the Canucks. “I believe it was meant to be,” stated Brännström. “It was a bizarre couple of weeks for me earlier than coming right here but it surely has been actually good since I acquired right here. I really feel like I’m at dwelling. I actually like town, my teammates, the coaches, and the way we play. It simply feels nice that I’ve ended up right here.” If he retains taking part in like this, basic supervisor Patrik Allvin will most likely have an extension able to be signed when Jan. 1 comes round.
Minus Two: Carson Soucy & Tyler Myers Have Misplaced Their Mojo as a Pairing
Each group has a shutdown pairing that they throw out towards the opposite group’s prime strains. Final season, the Canucks seemingly discovered a reasonably good one in Carson Soucy and Tyler Myers. They matched up towards Connor McDavid for a lot of the playoffs and have been comparatively efficient at limiting his probabilities. So, when Myers was re-signed and Soucy began the season wholesome, it was a no brainer to have them as a pairing once more. However, for no matter motive, they’ve turn into one of many worst duos within the NHL 17 video games into the season. They haven’t solely struggled defensively, however have a heck of a time transferring the puck cleanly out of their zone. They get hemmed in most of the time, and consequently, have bled objectives and high-danger probabilities.
In response to Pure Stat Trick, with Soucy and Myers on the ice at five-on-five, the Canucks have been outscored 11-4, outchanced 78-45, and have allowed 25 high-danger probabilities. As you would possibly guess, their Corsi for proportion (CF%) can be abysmal at a paltry 38.24 %, that means that the group not often drives play when they’re on the ice. All in all, I believe it could be time for a brand new second pairing.
Plus Three: Kiefer Sherwood Continues to Make His Presence Felt
One other optimistic of the Canucks’ season thus far has been Kiefer Sherwood. Signed as a free agent within the offseason to a two-year deal, he has exceeded expectations and has turn into one of many play drivers and impression gamers within the bottom-six. A lot in order that Tocchet felt he wanted to be elevated within the lineup. He began his first recreation within the top-six on Sunday, lining up alongside Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, and scored a aim towards his former group, the Predators. He now has 4 objectives, nearly midway to the whole he had all of final season. Alongside together with his offence, he’s bringing the trademark physicality and pest-like qualities that attracted the Canucks to him within the first place, presently main the league with 105 hits. He’s on tempo for over 500, which might obliterate the document that Jeremy Lauzon set final season (386).
Minus Three: Canucks’ Identification From 2023-24 MIA Too Many Nights
As talked about off the highest, the Canucks have been wildly inconsistent this season. Their id as a hardworking, heavy forecheck group that performs stable two-way hockey has come and gone all through their first 17 video games, generally even interval to interval. I believe they’ve performed perhaps two or three video games the place you could possibly say they resembled the group that received 50 video games and gave Tocchet the Jack Adams Award in 2023-24. Tocchet retains saying it’s a piece in progress, however that work must be executed quickly, or they’ll fall into dangerous habits that would plague them your entire season.
Too many instances, the Canucks have regarded just like the groups that ultimately price Travis Inexperienced and Bruce Boudreau their jobs. They started the season blowing leads left and proper (Boudreau), and now they will’t appear to attain first (Inexperienced). They’ve allowed the primary aim in 11 of their first 17 video games and have been pressured to return from behind method too many instances. Whereas it hasn’t price them within the standings an excessive amount of but, it’s powerful to undergo a complete season not dictating the tempo to start out a recreation. Scoring first lets you get to your id faster, reasonably than straying from it to get again on even phrases. Final season, the Canucks have been among the best at beginning video games on the suitable foot, scoring first in 53 of their 82 video games (64.6 % of the time). This season, they’ve opened the scoring in solely six, a paltry 35.3 % of the time. No surprise they’re struggling to seek out their id.
What’s Subsequent for the Canucks?
The Canucks will try to proper the ship (once more) once they face the Rangers on Tuesday within the ultimate recreation of this six-game homestand. They’ve gone 2-3-0 thus far and can try and make it an excellent 3-3-0 earlier than heading onto the highway for a six-game trek out east the place they’ll face the Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Pink Wings, and Minnesota Wild. Happily, their highway document is a formidable 6-1-0 the place their id has come out of hiding most of the time.
