Vancouver Canucks prospects still shining as big club hits the road in AZ (canucks)

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Vancouver Canucks prospects still shining as big club hits the road in AZ

By Carol Schram

Mar 11, 2018 • 3:22 pm

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Sunday March 11 - Vancouver Canucks vs. Arizona Coyotes - 6 p.m. - Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet 650

Vancouver Canucks: 68 GP, 25-34-9, 59 pts, 28th overall Arizona Coyotes: 67 GP, 21-35-11, 53 pts, eighth in Pacific Division

The Vancouver Canucks' last regulation win came exactly two weeks ago, at Gila River Arena against the Arizona Coyotes. Since then, they've gone 1-3-2, including a widely derided 2-1 loss to the Coyotes in Vancouver last Wednesday.

I like their odds tonight. I'll point out once again that Arizona has made up a lot of ground since that brutal 0-10-1 start under coach Rick Tocchet, but the Coyotes will be on a back-to-back tonight after a pretty intense 5-2 loss at altitude to Colorado on Saturday. That was Arizona's first regulation loss since losing to Vancouver two weeks ago: they've gone 3-1-1 in the meantime.

Darcy Kuemper took the loss in Denver on Saturday, so the Canucks will most likely face Antti Raanta for the first time this season tonight. Jacob Markstrom's expected to get the nod for Vancouver.

Dylan Strome has been recalled by the Coyotes ahead of tonight's game. Chosen third overall in 2015 (Boeser's year), Strome has been in the AHL since mid-December after picking up just one goal in his 11 NHL appearances so far this season.

The Canucks are coming into tonight's game after a 5-2 loss to Minnesota on Friday—a score that makes the game look worse than it was, since the Wild scored an empty-netter with 44 seconds left on the clock, then Marcus Foligno beat Anders Nilsson one last time with 14 seconds remaining.

The impressions that'll remain for me from that game were the size mismatches: Troy Stecher trying to get body position against 6'4" Eric Staal at the edge of the crease on the winning goal and Brendan Leipsic fruitlessly trying to contain 6'3" Charlie Coyle on the empty netter. Small and speedy might be in vogue in today's NHL, but I think there's still something to be said for players who can outmuscle their opponents.

Youth is in too, but don't tell that to Matt Cullen. Now the oldest player in the NHL at 41 years and four months, Cullen has a solid 10-10-20 in 67 games this season. Six of those goals have come since the beginning of February. After two years of clutch playoff play on those cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins teams, will he help the Wild make a real run this year?

Food for thought—he and Eric Staal have already won one Cup together. Both were among the leading scorers for the Carolina Hurricanes way back in 2006.

After being scratched for his first three games when he was acquired by the Canucks, Jussi Jokinen became the team's hottest scorer on Friday, with goals in back-to-back games. He's now 2-0-2 and a plus-two in three games. Brendan Leipsic is 2-4-6 and a plus-one in five games, while Tyler Motte is pointless and a minus-three.

The Canucks had better try to make hay tonight while they can. Tonight's game kicks off what may as well be an eight-game road trip. It starts with three-in-four against the Coyotes, Kings and Ducks, then the Canucks come back to Rogers Arena for one game against the San Jose Sharks before hitting the road again for another four-in-six against Vegas, Chicago, St. Louis and Dallas.

That's a tough schedule against a lot of heavy-duty competition, who are mostly fighting for playoff position.

One other note from Glendale today:

There was some talk earlier this week that Brendan Gaunce could also get back into the mix before too much longer.

Now, the fun stuff: prospect time!

Elias Pettersson is just the beginning:

Cory Pronman had some interesting thoughts on Pettersson behind the paywall at The Athletic this week.

"What’s interesting to me is not if Pettersson is great (obviously the answer is yes), but trying to put this season in context," writes Pronman, before pointing out how few elite Swedish talents have stayed in the SHL for their 19-year-old seasons in recent years and musing on whether the overall level of play in the SHL has dropped, possibly making Pettersson's season a little less impressive than it appears at first glance.

As an aside—The Athletic announced plans to keep growing this week after securing another $20 million in venture capital funding. I spoke to their COO Adam Hansmann about the site's brief history and future plans for Forbes. Interesting stuff!

Pettersson's skinny frame hasn't slowed him down so far but the only NHLer I can think of who has a similar build is Ryan Miller—not a very informative comparable! He'll be fascinating to watch as he makes his transition to North America.

Also over in Sweden:

Dahlen has points in five of Timra's six playoff goals so far.

And Adam Gaudette had a goal and an assist on Saturday as Northeastern moved on in the Hockey East tournament after sweeping Massachusetts.

Gaudette got a big endorsement from NCAA expert John Buccigross of ESPN today:

Northeastern now moves on to play Providence in the Hockey East semifinal next Friday at TD Garden in Boston. Friday's early semifinal will see Boston College go up against Boston University.

Enjoy the game!

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