I'm waiting for him to mature. Reminds me a bit of Nichushkin when he was that age. So inconsistent. I'm not sure the rotation of line mates and as you said the rest of the team stick waving away helps.
- manvanfan

He will be fine, but think he should be in the AHL, to get away from this team full of bad habits.

No one gives a sh!t. Soccer is a joke

https://youtu.be/9HxzLEqI-qE
- CanuckDon

During last night's game, Podkolzin had a couple chances to paste a defenseman, yet chose to do a stickwaving fly-by, leading to an easy breakout pass.
This behavior is becoming contagious, as last season he at least bumped the player.
- Reubenkincade

How about when the net was empty and Brock could have given his man a minor bump and won possession but instead waived at him with his stick while he did a fly by and the dude almost scored. (frank) off Brock !

I like him because he can/will mix it up. He's certainly needs work on his defensive skills. Still only 24.
- VanHockeyGuy

Ya, I think he could be okay, but not with this group. Once you start with the bag habits, it gets hard to break that cycle.

Sending Lockwood back down is another headscratcher, like when they sent Brisebois back down. If you are defensively responsible, you aren't good enough for the Canucks.
- Reubenkincade

I think it’s more about not wanting to waive/demote other players.

Not saying it’s right, just think they wouldn’t want to lose Stillman on waivers if Brisbois can be sent down more easily.

No one gives a sh!t. Soccer is a joke

https://youtu.be/9HxzLEqI-qE
- CanuckDon

Seems to have carried over to the new regime.
- Reubenkincade

That's why I think it's time to move on from Delmore, Gradin and Chibisov the 3 longest serving scouts. They have been through the past 4 regimes. Canucks have been more miss than hit for decades. Better when they had a "scout" as their leader though but not near good enough.

I watched a period of STL game last night. Well balanced team, as Nucker said 8 game losing streak they can turn into a 7 game winning streak as they have. They also have traded for good defenders and drafted some. Not the toughest team but they want the puck and are willing to do more than just wave their stick at the opponent to get it.

How about when the net was empty and Brock could have given his man a minor bump and won possession but instead waived at him with his stick while he did a fly by and the dude almost scored. (frank) off Brock !
- CanuckDon

Yup, that as well. This crap goes on every game for years now.

He will be fine, but think he should be in the AHL, to get away from this team full of bad habits.
- Reubenkincade

Considering how Klimovich is developing in the AHL. Not so sure that's a great place to learn good habits.

That's why I think it's time to move on from Delmore, Gradin and Chibisov the 3 longest serving scouts. They have been through the past 4 regimes. Canucks have been more miss than hit for decades. Better when they had a "scout" as their leader though but not near good enough.

I watched a period of STL game last night. Well balanced team, as Nucker said 8 game losing streak they can turn into a 7 game winning streak as they have. They also have traded for good defenders and drafted some. Not the toughest team but they want the puck and are willing to do more than just wave their stick at the opponent to get it.
- manvanfan

This is not a good look for Boeser.

3 Game road trip, I'm sure the squad is happy to get out of town.

No one gives a sh!t. Soccer is a joke

https://youtu.be/9HxzLEqI-qE
- CanuckDon

It’s the most popular sport in the world, by a large margin.

It’s the most popular sport in the world, by a large margin.
- Pacificgem

Thanks tips.

This is not a good look for Boeser.
- VanHockeyGuy

Sadly, this is the most physical he has been in years. His hits per 60 are up. Garland on the other hand is hitting half as much as he did last season.

Van needs to pick and choose which stick wavers to keep and which to get rid of. Every team has some.

Saudi Arabia beats Argentina #BIG
- Pacificgem

What did they beat them with?

3 Game road trip, I'm sure the squad is happy to get out of town.
- VanHockeyGuy

I'm happy as long as they don't come back.

Considering how Klimovich is developing in the AHL. Not so sure that's a great place to learn good habits.
- manvanfan

If you are referring to his lack of playing time, there is a reason for it. Contrary to popular belief, defense can't be taught, to everyone, and the Canucks have those types everywhere in the system.

Sadly, this is the most physical he has been in years. His hits per 60 are up. Garland on the other hand is hitting half as much as he did last season.

Van needs to pick and choose which stick wavers to keep and which to get rid of. Every team has some.
- manvanfan

Did you read the article on ‘The Athletic’ this morning by Dayal. Pretty good read on the situation.

If you are referring to his lack of playing time, there is a reason for it. Contrary to popular belief, defense can't be taught, to everyone, and the Canucks have those types everywhere in the system.
- Reubenkincade

I was referring to the lack of progression in his development that has gone on with him over the past 2 years, that has led to him being healthy scratched.

Part of the article by Dayal this morning.


Bruce Boudreau isn’t the reason the Canucks are underperforming. He shares some responsibility in the results, of course, but the elephant in the room is obviously the core group of players and roster construction.

In having said that, one of Boudreau’s biggest miscalculations this season has been entrusting whatever line Miller’s been on as the primary matchup trio to pit against the opposition’s best players.

Boudreau sent Miller’s line, with Bo Horvat, out against Jack Eichel for just north of 15 minutes head-to-head. In that battle, Eichel’s line had a 10-5 edge in shots, 7-1 advantage in high-danger chances and pumped three goals without surrendering a single one.

The Canucks’ inability to weather the storm of Eichel’s line lost them the game. It’s not the first time that Miller’s line has struggled controlling five-on-five play against top players. Miller kept Sidney Crosby, Matt Duchene, Trevor Zegras and Jack Hughes in check during head-to-head competition this season but beyond that, the results have been ugly.

Auston Matthews outshot Miller’s line 5-2 and scored. Tage Thompson had a 5-3 edge in shots and was unlucky not to convert. Anze Kopitar’s line had a 10-1 edge in shots. Brady Tkachuk’s line dominated play to the tune of a 7-1 shot advantage. Connor McDavid’s line was up 8-4 on shots and scored.

In total, I’ve counted 10 games where Miller’s line was the primary matchup against an imposing top line this season. In those head-to-head minutes, Miller’s line has been outshot 55-23 and outscored 5-1.

Let me be very clear, this isn’t me trying to blame Miller at all. He’s been much better since shifting to wing and the results back that. The problem is that he — and Horvat by extension recently — has been trotted out like a matchups ace when that’s clearly not his identity.

Pettersson has been far and away the Canucks’ best all-around forward this season. He isn’t just putting up offensive numbers, he’s been excellent in his own end. He’s backchecked, stolen pucks, been strong on his stick and never cheated for offence. He manages the puck responsibly. Pettersson might have the best two-way habits of any forward on this team. Miller and Horvat have meshed offensively but they’ve been overpowered defensively against top players. It’s time to give Pettersson an extended look against the opposition’s best players.

In Whistler training camp, Boudreau mentioned that he wouldn’t use Pettersson’s line against toughs until he could trust Andrei Kuzmenko defensively. I understand that concern because Kuzmenko has genuine defensive warts. But with all else failing, Pettersson deserves a chance to show whether he can stem the tide against elite players. Ride or die by your best player because right now, that’s the only hope.

Did you read the article on ‘The Athletic’ this morning by Dayal. Pretty good read on the situation.
- Pacificgem

I try not to read the athletic. Occasional article but if you want to PM it to me, go ahead.

I did see that Dayal posted an article

Harman Dayal

Inside the #Canucks’ wild collapse against the Golden Knights and why isn’t Elias Pettersson deployed like an elite two-way centre?

The answer I'd say is that physically overmatched a lot of the time. His line mates aren't really 1st line players.

I try not to read the athletic. Occasional article but if you want to PM it to me, go ahead.

I did see that Dayal posted an article


The answer I'd say is that physically overmatched a lot of the time. His line mates aren't really 1st line players.
- manvanfan

The speed dynamic that the Canucks are missing

Before the game turned into a wild back-and-forth affair, I thought the first period was really telling.

It was telling because the Canucks were mostly playing well and yet they were still overwhelmed. Vancouver came out of the gate strong with surprisingly crisp passing, clean breakouts and some sustained offensive zone pressure. But after the first handful of minutes, Vegas started controlling the game. It wasn’t because the Canucks were all of a sudden making boneheaded plays with the puck, losing winnable battles, or creating other self-inflicted wounds, which is often the issue.

No, it was because the Golden Knights had a jump of speed that the Canucks had no answer for. There were a ton of sequences to highlight the pace difference but a 30-second stretch around the six-minute mark stood out because it wasn’t Jack Eichel, Chandler Stephenson, William Karlsson, or any other top player doing the damage. It was Vegas’ fourth line.

The sequence started with William Carrier getting behind the Canucks’ defence after a neutral zone faceoff in mere seconds. He couldn’t bury the partial breakaway attempt but the Golden Knights hounded the puck like hungry dogs, zipped it around the offensive zone with decisive passes and generated multiple Grade-A chances right on the doorstep.

The Canucks eventually got the puck back and countered but weren’t fast enough to generate an uncontested shot. Vegas picked up the loose puck and this time they showed speed isn’t just about how fast you can move with your feet but how quickly you can make plays as well. The Golden Knights demonstrated tight, organized puck support and connected fast passes for a scoring chance in the slot off the rush.

It’s like Vegas was ripping around doing 120 km/h on the highway while the Canucks were stuck in the slow lane with a car that couldn’t push past 80.

The first period was striking because the Canucks were decisively outplayed, outshot 17-8, despite not playing all that poorly. Vancouver’s own play slipped in the final two periods. They eventually reverted back to mental mistakes, structural breakdowns and porous net-front defence. But before all of that, the Canucks were overwhelmed because they were underpowered in their speed and skill.

That’s genuinely concerning because it’s further proof that even when the Canucks are competent and polished by their standards, they’re not in the same league as the top teams in this league.

No one gives a sh!t. Soccer is a joke

https://youtu.be/9HxzLEqI-qE
- CanuckDon

On D


Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
·
1h
Leafs' D down Muzzin, Brodie and now Rielly.
Pressure's on to scour the trade market. Easier said than done of course at this time of year.
- VanHockeyGuy

Dermott for a 3rd

Dermott for a 2nd
- Nucker101

Interest charge