In this edition of the hotstove, we share our choices for most underrated player on the Vancouver Canucks.
Todd Cordell
Josh Leivo.
I think he is a solid modern-day depth player who can move up and down the lineup and hang in wherever he ends up. Leivo is a very efficient goal scorer – since the beginning of 2018-19 he has scored 5v5 goals at a higher clip than Joe Pavelski, Patrik Laine and Jonathan Marchessault – so he’s quite capable of playing with the big guns. If not, he provides some pop in the bottom-6 and the cost defensively is more than likely erased by the conservative, defense-first players he’d generally end up with.
While I don’t think he is anything special, the Canucks are essentially made up of very good, and very overpaid, players so there isn’t much of a happy medium to choose from. Leivo gets my vote because his best trait – scoring goals – is arguably the most difficult to find.
Sean Maloughney Troy Stecher.
While all attention on the backend was on Hughes this season, and rightfully so, Troy Stecher also had a quietly good season. Despite averaging the 5th most time on ice among all Canucks defenders, Stecher still produced 5 goals and 12 assists, all at even strength. Averaging roughly 6 minutes less a game than Quinn Hughes, Stecher tied him for even strength goals with 5.
Defensively and possession wise, Stecher certainly got into some trouble and yet still managed to have the highest GF% at even strength among all defenders at 56.41%. The 26 year old has now played in 286 NHL games and may never be more than he is right now but even as a solid third pairing player who can produce at 5 on 5 he has value.
numbers via naturalstattrick.com
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