Vancouver Canucks A-to-Z Guide 2015-16
The 2015-16 NHL Season is upon us. Game 1 is in the books and the Canucks started the season with a solid 5-1 win over the Calgary Flames (if only they had done that 6 months ago). I present to you my 2015-16 Vancouver Canucks A-to-Z guide
A is for Alex Burrows
Alex Burrows will be a key player for the Canucks. He has had success with the Sedins. Burrows is one of the older Canucks, entering his 11th season in the league and 34 years old, Burrows will be a winger on one of the top two lines and see time on the power play. He may even get time on the PK. Last season, Burrows had 33 points (18G 15A in 70 games last season). If he can contribute 25-30 goals that will be great.
B is for Bounce-back season
The one player looking to avenge a bad year last season was Luca Sbisa. In his first season as a Canuck last year, Sbisa was paired with veteran Kevin Bieksa. The problem is Bieksa and Sbisa are both high risk high reward players. As a result the two players were often exposed by the opponents. Matters were not helped by Sbisa's tendency to cough up the puck in the middle of the ice or be physically beaten by the opponent. With Bieksa traded to the Ducks, Sbisa must be better defensively and prove he can be reliable. Last season, he was -8, meaning Sbisa was on the ice for 8 more goals against than goals scored by the Canucks. He had 11 points (3G 8A in 76 games).
C is for Canadian born Players
Canada has a rich history with hockey and developing players. This season, the Canucks are starting with ten Canadian born players on their roster. Hailing from BC are Dan Hamhuis (Smithers BC) and Jake Virtanen (New Westminster BC) Virtanen may only play a few games depending how he does. Calling Saskatchewan home are 4th liner Derek Dorsett (Kindersley, Saskatchewan) and Adam Cracknell (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan). There are five Ontario born Canucks: Chris Tanev (East York, Ontario), Brandon Prust (London, Ontario), Jared McCann (Stratford, Ontario), Ben Hutton (Prescott, Ontario), and Bo Horvat (London, Ontario). Finally, Burrows hails from Pincourt, Quebec.
D is for Defense
On defense this season, the Canucks will have a mostly veteran group. Anchoring the defenders will be top pairing Chris Tanev and Alex Edler. Edler can look like a Norris candidate one game and a bumbling rookie the next. The challenge for him will be consistent play. Chris Tanev is the best of the younger defenseman. He has consistently shown he has ice water in his veins. Tanev is so smart and methodical in his decisions. The second pairing consists of veteran Dan Hamhuis and journeyman Matt Bartkowski. Hamhuis has been hampered by a pesky groin injury that will likely cause him to sit out practices to stay fresh for games. As for Bartkowski, he is looking to rebound after a poor season in Boston, which saw him benched 17 straight games at one point. Finally, two of Hutton, Sbisa and Yannick Weber will play in the 3rd pairing or as a 7th defenseman. Hutton is the wildcard. He had a terrific preseason and forced management to risk Frankie Corrado on Waivers. Of course, Canucks fans will loudly remind management of this should the Canucks defense struggle and give up a lot of goals this season. As a team last year, the Canucks gave up 220 goals (12th highest in the NHL; 4th highest in the Western Conference).
E is for Even Strength
One cannot rely on the power play alone to win hockey games. In fact, in 2014-15, the Canucks had 4 games where they did not have a power play and a further dozen games where they had just 1 man advantage. Last season, the Canucks scored 184 of their 236 goals (78%) at even strength (tied for 7th best in the NHL; 5th best in the Western Conference). Conversely, the team allowed 180 of the 220 goals against (81.8%). The Canucks should aim to maintain the even strength scoring and reduce the goals against at even strength.
F is for Faceoffs
The faceoff is arguably the most important facet of hockey. Win the draw and your team can put the opponents on their heels. Lose the draw and you must fight to regain puck possession, wasting valuable time and energy. As a team, last season the Canucks were dead last in this category with a faceoff win% of just 46.7%. Bo Horvat was the best of the bunch last season, winning 436/848 faceoffs (51.4%). By contrast Boston's Patrice Bergeron was the best in the NHL last season winning 1175 of 1951 draws (60.2%). Only Horvat and Henrik won over 50% of the faceoffs they took. The Canucks must make this a priority in practices.
G is for Goaltending
The off-season saw clarity in goal and much controversy. The popular back-up Eddie Lack was dealt to Carolina after Jacob Markstrom had an outstanding year in the AHL, leading the Utica Comets to the Calder Cup finals. However, at the NHL level. Markstrom's results have been so-so at best. Last season, in his first appearance vs. San Jose, he was yanked after allowing 3 goals on 4 shots. He looked in a March 3 3-1 victory over Arizona stopping 22/23 shots. Markstrom will need to be counted on as starter Ryan Miller is the oldest starting goalie in the NHL. As well, Miller is coming off a knee injury that kept him off the ice until July. Ryan Miller will play between 50-60 games. Markstrom can expect to play at the back end of back to back games for sure. Hopefully Markstrom can do enough to give the team a chance to win.
H is for Henrik Sedin
Captain Henrik Sedin is entering his 16th season in the NHL. He and brother Daniel have been two of the top players in the game for the better part of their careers. Henrik is such an essential part of the team, not only because of his vast experience but because the Canucks are so thin at center that having him miss significant time will be devastating. In the opening game of the 2015-16 season, Henrik and brother Daniel were working their magic making the Flames look silly. Here's hoping that effort shows up most of the time this season.
I is for International Players
A good chunk of the Canucks core was born outside Canada. The Sedin twins lead the charge hailing from Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. They are joined by fellow countrymen Markstrom (Gavle, Sweden) and Edler (Ostersumd, Sweden). Hailing from Switzerland are Weber (Morges, Switzerland) and Sven Baertschi (Langenthal, Switzaerland). Sbisa is the team's only Italian (Ozieri, Italy). Second liner Radim Vrbata calls Mlada Boleslav, Czechoslovakia home. Jannik Hansen was born in Herlev, Denmark. Finally, the Canucks have four Americans on the team this season: Bartkowski (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Chris Higgins (Smithtown, NY), Miller (East Lansing, Michigan) and Brandon Sutter (Huntington, NY)
J is for Jannik Hansen
Hansen must play within his game and on the 3rd line to be successful. Coach after coach have tried to integrate Hansen on the top 2 lines but he is not gifted with the softest hands. Hansen will see time killing penalties. Last season, he had 33 points (16G 17A in 81 games). The lone game Hansen missed came after a scary situation where he collapsed on the bench after absorbing a heavy hit. Hansen spent the night in hospital as a precaution and missed the following game.
K is for Killing Penalties
Another important aspect of hockey is the ability to kill off penalties. It is inevitable the Canucks will take at least one penalty most games. When short-handed they will primarily use the Sedins, Burrows, Hansen, Edler, Hamhuis. Tanev and Bartkowski. Personally, I think they should only use the Sedins in the final moments of a penalty to keep them fresh and take away the injury risk from a blocked shot. Last season, the Canucks were 2nd in the league killing off 85.7% of the penalties they took. This has been a strength of the Canucks in recent years. The trend should continue this year.
L is for Lost as in players lost through free agency/trade/waivers
The Canucks traded away several veteran players. First, they dealt lifelong defenseman Kevin Bieksa to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a 2nd round pick in next year's draft. Bieksa was an aging defenseman who suffered injuries in recent years and his play was on the decline as well. Also, the Canucks have several young defenseman in their system that are near ready to play in the NHL, including Hutton. In an unpopular move, the Canucks dealt fan favorite Eddie Lack to Carolina for a 7th round pick in next year's draft. Lack was due to be paid big bucks upon his contract expiry at the end of the season and he was set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA). The Canucks had to choose between him and Markstrom and Markstrom won the backup job after the stellar season in the AHL. Also dealt was Nick Bonino in exchange for Sutter. Bonino was initially brought in to replace Kesler but he did not pan out. Finally, the Canucks dealt troubled winger Zack Kassian and a 5th round pick to Montreal for Winger Prust (see below for details). The Canucks elected not to re-sign three UFA's: Shawn Matthias (signed with the Maple Leafs for 1 year), center Brad Richardson (Signed for 3 years with the Coyotes) and minor leaguer Brandon DeFazio (signed 1 year deal with Boston)
M is for Must see games
The 2015-16 season should produce many great games. Here are 5 must see games for the Canucks
October 12 @ Anaheim
This will be an early test for the Canucks. They also get to be reunited with Bieksa and Ryan Kesler (dealt in 2014 to the Ducks). The Canucks must win these games vs. the Ducks. They have struggled in these games in recent years. Last season, the Canucks went 2-1-2 vs the ducks last season
October 18 vs. Edmonton
This will be Canucks fans first time seeing phenom Connor McDavid in a regular season game. The Oilers are hoping this is the year their off-season moves and draft choices finally come together at once, They picked up free agent goalie Cam Talbot, D Andrej Sekera, and C Mark Letestu. Historically, the Sedins have done well vs. the Oilers and Miller won all five starts vs. the Oilers last season. This could be a high-scoring game.
November 4 vs. Pittsburgh
The Penguins added sniper Phil Kessel in a massive trade from the Maple Leafs. He combines with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz to give the Penguins one of the most dangerous and expensive top lines in the league. That said, the Penguins also don't have much depth and their defense is not exactly top-end. This game will be a good test for the Canucks.
December 9 Vs, NY Rangers
Former coach Alain Vigneault brings a Rangers team that has had deep runs in the playoffs the past 2 seasons to Roger's arena. The Canucks team he faces looks different to the one he coached. Still with the team are the Sedins, Burrows, Hamhuis, Edler, Higgins, Edler, Tanev, Hansen, Dorsett, and Weber. Expect this to be a low-scoring game.
March 14 vs. Winnipeg
This game marks the first of two games vs. the Jets in 8 days (the Canucks travel to Winnipeg on the 22). With the Pacific division looking very tough this year with Calgary, Edmonton, Amaheim and LA likely to stand a great chance at the playoffs, the Canucks could be fighting the Jets for one of 2 wildcard spots. The Jets ice a strong team that should give the Canucks fits.
N is for new as in new players acquired via draft/trade/free agency on the roster to start the season
The Canucks big acquisition was Brandon Sutter. He will essentially be replacing Bonino, who did not pan out as a second liner. Sutter had 33 points (21G 12A) in a 3rd line role with the Penguins last season. He looked good with the twins in game 1 vs. Calgary. Time will tell if the line works on a consistent basis. Prust (acquired in the Kassian trade from Montreal) will bring a level pf toughness to the Canucks. Desjardins plays his 4th line so if Prust wants to stay in the lineup he must contribute in other ways besides fighting. Journeyman Adam Cracknell will be a 4th liner. In 17 games last season he had a single assist. The Canucks are hoping his time in the AHL taught him enough to be a solid contributer. Bartkowski was signed as a free agent for one year. The one concern about Bartkowski is the Bruins scratched him for 17 straight games. Can Bartkowski not be a defensive liability? Time will tell.
O is for Offence
The Canucks lost 50 goals in their off-season moves, most notably Kassian and Bonino. They are hoping that Sutter finds chemistry with the Sedins to start with. Failing that, they will likely try him on the second line and plug Burrows or Vrbata with the Sedins. There is no question that the Sedins will be a cornerstone of the Canucks offense. As well, the defense has to chip in with goals as well. Too often last season, the Canucks were caught trying the home run pass and it was picked off. Players have to support each other. Guys like Hansen who maybe aren't as gifted with their hands need to drive the net and go for the dirty goal off a goalmouth scramble or rebound. The season will be a failure if the Sedins are asked to do all the scoring and other lines don't contribute. Look for Vrbata to be motivated to have a good year as he is on an expiring contract.
P is for Power Play
It is critical that one takes advantage of opportunities with the man advantage. Scoring at a consistent rate with the power play can make a team change the way they play to avoid taking a penalty. This in turn can mean players have more time and space than they normally would at even strength. In recent years, the power play has been a major weakness of the Canucks game. Far too often, the Canucks are too predictable or they try and force shots through that have little or no chance of success. Defenders like Edler have to improve their accuracy on the power play. Often times, if the first power play unit (Sedins, Vrbata, Edler and Burrows) don't score, the power play fails. The Canucks don't have much depth in terms of scoring. Last season, the Canucks were successful 19.3% of the time (tied for 8th best in the NHL). By contrast, in the 2010-11 season when they led the league in PP success rate of 24.3%.
Q is for quality as in quality effort
With an older lineup on average, the Canucks are going to have their off-nights. In a conference and division as tight as the West and Pacific, the Canucks need to manage the minutes of their veterans. Coach Desjardins has proven he will roll four lines. The veterans like Hank and Dank know how hard they need to practice and when they need to take days off for maintenance. Undoubtedly, the coaches will impose maintenance days throughout the season, Remember, the season is an 82 game marathon, not a sprint.
R is for Rookie
Every year the Canucks vow to give their younger players a chance in the regular season. However, almost every time a journeyman veteran gets the final spot. This year, things were different. Three young players cracked the Canucks opening night lineup: Jake Virtanen, Jared McCann and Ben Hutton. McCann and Hutton were in the lineup vs Calgary Wednesday night. Virtanen has had some great battles vs. McDavid both in junior and at the young Stars tournament. Virtanen laid out McDavid in the tournament's opening game. It is likely one or both of McCann and Virtanen will be sent back to their junior clubs, as both are too young to play in the AHL. Hutton looked good vs. Calgary. He set up Hansen with a beautiful outlet pass for the game's opening goal. Hutton was on the ice and out of position on Calgary's only goal but he'll learn from the mistake. It's great that the Canucks are integrating their youth into their lineup because in the next few years they will be the future of the Canucks when the Sedins/Burrows/Hansen retire.
S is for Stanley Cup
Of course this is the ultimate goal of every team. The Canucks will be in tough to even make the playoffs. As mentioned above, 4 of the 5 division rivals added big pieces to their lineup: Flames Dougie Hamilton, Oilers Talbot and McDavid, Ducks Bieksa and Kings Milan Lucic. The Canucks are transitioning their veteran core and incorporating younger players. Their fourth line is weaker than last season. In goal, there is great question over whether starter Miller can hold up physically and whether back-up Markstrom can perform competently in the NHL.
T is for Trophy as in individual awards
This year's team is unlikely to get any individual awards at season's end. The Sedins are both former Art Ross winners (Henrik in 2010 and Daniel in 2011). No Canuck has ever won a Norris trophy for top defenseman although Edler has been in conversations though not very seriously. Starting goalie Miller has won the Vezina trophy as top goalie (2010). I think the team would trade any individual awards for the big award (Stanley Cup)
U is for unsung hero
An unsung hero is defined as someone who does great things without being praised. The Sedins fit this definition both on and off the ice. They unselfishly donated 1.5 million to the Canucks foundation to be put towardsa pediatric ICU and diagnostic imaging. On the ice, the Sedins go about their business, not expecting much in return. As well, the Twins have left money on the table in contract negotiations so the Canucks could sign other free agents to stay competitive. Undoubtedly, when the Sedins retire in a few years #33 and #22 will be up in the rafters at Roger's Arena.
V is for Vrbata, Radim
Vrbata is in the final year of his 2 year contract. He is unlikely to re-sign with the Canucks given his age (34) and the Canucks need to get younger. Last season, he started the year playing with the Sedins and played well with them. However, in an effort to spread the scoring, he was moved to the second line with Burrows and Bonino. This year he'll continue to play on the second line and also see time on the top power play unit. Last season, Vrbata had a solid 63 points (31G 32A in 79 games.)
W is for Willie Desjardins
Coach Desjardins is entering his second year as Canucks bench boss. He had a very successful year last season leading the Canucks to a somewhat surprising 101 point season good for 2nd in the tough Pacific Division. He will face many challenges this season, including coaxing enough secondary scoring from his team. Desjardins likes to roll 4 lines but the 4th line he has to work with at the moment is inferior to the one he had last season. Another challenge will be improving upon a power play that has become all too predictable and has slipped to the middle of the league last year. Also, Desjardins did a good job of managing the Sedins and other older veterans minutes. This is essential so they are fresh for the playoffs.
X is for X factor
There are several X factors. First, the Canucks must win the games they are supposed to win (Arizona, Florida, Carolina, etc.). The Pacific division is poised to be extremely competitive. It could easily take 100 points just to make the playoffs. Another X factor is managing the minutes of veteran players. The temptation is going to be to play the Sedins early and often if the rest of the lineup fails to produce. In goal, Desjardins must trust his backup goalie. Miller is coming off a knee injury and he is the oldest starting goalie in the NHL. Faceoffs must be a focus in practice. I cannot understate how critical it is to win a faceoff on a consistent basis. Last season the Stanley Cup winning Blackhawks were 5th in the league winning 52% of the draws as a team, the Canucks were 29th @ 46%. Only the liwly Buffalo Sabres were worse 44%. It wastes so much energy trying to get the puck back that when you do your team needs to change lines right away. If the Canucks overcome these X factors they should have a successful season.
Y is for Yannick Weber
Weber will be a key defenseman for the Canucks for 2 reasons. First he is a right-handed shot. Second, Weber is a versatile defenseman who can play in all situations, PP, PK, and vs. the opponent's 2nd tier. Look for Weber to platoon in/out of the lineup with Sbisa and Hutton. Whichever two of the three are playing well at the given time will play consistently game to game. The Canucks surprised many pundits last year but a lot of things have to go their way to repeat that performance of last season.
Z is for Zack Kassian
Although Zack Kassian is not a Canuck this year, I decided to include him for a personal reason. Kassian was recently suspended by the league indefinitely for being a passenger in his own vehicle driven by a 20 year old. He is currently in stage 2 of the NHL's substance abuse program. I do not abuse drugs or alcohol but have a friend who does. For anyone who struggles with drug/alcohol addiction, you are not alone. Talk to your doctor or go to emergency for help. I will also say it is too early to say if the Canucks won this trade. We need to see Prust play a few games before judging him.
Enjoy the season and Go Canucks Go
A is for Alex Burrows
B is for Bounce-back season
The one player looking to avenge a bad year last season was Luca Sbisa. In his first season as a Canuck last year, Sbisa was paired with veteran Kevin Bieksa. The problem is Bieksa and Sbisa are both high risk high reward players. As a result the two players were often exposed by the opponents. Matters were not helped by Sbisa's tendency to cough up the puck in the middle of the ice or be physically beaten by the opponent. With Bieksa traded to the Ducks, Sbisa must be better defensively and prove he can be reliable. Last season, he was -8, meaning Sbisa was on the ice for 8 more goals against than goals scored by the Canucks. He had 11 points (3G 8A in 76 games).
C is for Canadian born Players
Canada has a rich history with hockey and developing players. This season, the Canucks are starting with ten Canadian born players on their roster. Hailing from BC are Dan Hamhuis (Smithers BC) and Jake Virtanen (New Westminster BC) Virtanen may only play a few games depending how he does. Calling Saskatchewan home are 4th liner Derek Dorsett (Kindersley, Saskatchewan) and Adam Cracknell (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan). There are five Ontario born Canucks: Chris Tanev (East York, Ontario), Brandon Prust (London, Ontario), Jared McCann (Stratford, Ontario), Ben Hutton (Prescott, Ontario), and Bo Horvat (London, Ontario). Finally, Burrows hails from Pincourt, Quebec.
D is for Defense
On defense this season, the Canucks will have a mostly veteran group. Anchoring the defenders will be top pairing Chris Tanev and Alex Edler. Edler can look like a Norris candidate one game and a bumbling rookie the next. The challenge for him will be consistent play. Chris Tanev is the best of the younger defenseman. He has consistently shown he has ice water in his veins. Tanev is so smart and methodical in his decisions. The second pairing consists of veteran Dan Hamhuis and journeyman Matt Bartkowski. Hamhuis has been hampered by a pesky groin injury that will likely cause him to sit out practices to stay fresh for games. As for Bartkowski, he is looking to rebound after a poor season in Boston, which saw him benched 17 straight games at one point. Finally, two of Hutton, Sbisa and Yannick Weber will play in the 3rd pairing or as a 7th defenseman. Hutton is the wildcard. He had a terrific preseason and forced management to risk Frankie Corrado on Waivers. Of course, Canucks fans will loudly remind management of this should the Canucks defense struggle and give up a lot of goals this season. As a team last year, the Canucks gave up 220 goals (12th highest in the NHL; 4th highest in the Western Conference).
E is for Even Strength
One cannot rely on the power play alone to win hockey games. In fact, in 2014-15, the Canucks had 4 games where they did not have a power play and a further dozen games where they had just 1 man advantage. Last season, the Canucks scored 184 of their 236 goals (78%) at even strength (tied for 7th best in the NHL; 5th best in the Western Conference). Conversely, the team allowed 180 of the 220 goals against (81.8%). The Canucks should aim to maintain the even strength scoring and reduce the goals against at even strength.
F is for Faceoffs
The faceoff is arguably the most important facet of hockey. Win the draw and your team can put the opponents on their heels. Lose the draw and you must fight to regain puck possession, wasting valuable time and energy. As a team, last season the Canucks were dead last in this category with a faceoff win% of just 46.7%. Bo Horvat was the best of the bunch last season, winning 436/848 faceoffs (51.4%). By contrast Boston's Patrice Bergeron was the best in the NHL last season winning 1175 of 1951 draws (60.2%). Only Horvat and Henrik won over 50% of the faceoffs they took. The Canucks must make this a priority in practices.
G is for Goaltending
The off-season saw clarity in goal and much controversy. The popular back-up Eddie Lack was dealt to Carolina after Jacob Markstrom had an outstanding year in the AHL, leading the Utica Comets to the Calder Cup finals. However, at the NHL level. Markstrom's results have been so-so at best. Last season, in his first appearance vs. San Jose, he was yanked after allowing 3 goals on 4 shots. He looked in a March 3 3-1 victory over Arizona stopping 22/23 shots. Markstrom will need to be counted on as starter Ryan Miller is the oldest starting goalie in the NHL. As well, Miller is coming off a knee injury that kept him off the ice until July. Ryan Miller will play between 50-60 games. Markstrom can expect to play at the back end of back to back games for sure. Hopefully Markstrom can do enough to give the team a chance to win.
H is for Henrik Sedin
Captain Henrik Sedin is entering his 16th season in the NHL. He and brother Daniel have been two of the top players in the game for the better part of their careers. Henrik is such an essential part of the team, not only because of his vast experience but because the Canucks are so thin at center that having him miss significant time will be devastating. In the opening game of the 2015-16 season, Henrik and brother Daniel were working their magic making the Flames look silly. Here's hoping that effort shows up most of the time this season.
I is for International Players
A good chunk of the Canucks core was born outside Canada. The Sedin twins lead the charge hailing from Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. They are joined by fellow countrymen Markstrom (Gavle, Sweden) and Edler (Ostersumd, Sweden). Hailing from Switzerland are Weber (Morges, Switzerland) and Sven Baertschi (Langenthal, Switzaerland). Sbisa is the team's only Italian (Ozieri, Italy). Second liner Radim Vrbata calls Mlada Boleslav, Czechoslovakia home. Jannik Hansen was born in Herlev, Denmark. Finally, the Canucks have four Americans on the team this season: Bartkowski (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Chris Higgins (Smithtown, NY), Miller (East Lansing, Michigan) and Brandon Sutter (Huntington, NY)
J is for Jannik Hansen
Hansen must play within his game and on the 3rd line to be successful. Coach after coach have tried to integrate Hansen on the top 2 lines but he is not gifted with the softest hands. Hansen will see time killing penalties. Last season, he had 33 points (16G 17A in 81 games). The lone game Hansen missed came after a scary situation where he collapsed on the bench after absorbing a heavy hit. Hansen spent the night in hospital as a precaution and missed the following game.
K is for Killing Penalties
Another important aspect of hockey is the ability to kill off penalties. It is inevitable the Canucks will take at least one penalty most games. When short-handed they will primarily use the Sedins, Burrows, Hansen, Edler, Hamhuis. Tanev and Bartkowski. Personally, I think they should only use the Sedins in the final moments of a penalty to keep them fresh and take away the injury risk from a blocked shot. Last season, the Canucks were 2nd in the league killing off 85.7% of the penalties they took. This has been a strength of the Canucks in recent years. The trend should continue this year.
L is for Lost as in players lost through free agency/trade/waivers
The Canucks traded away several veteran players. First, they dealt lifelong defenseman Kevin Bieksa to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a 2nd round pick in next year's draft. Bieksa was an aging defenseman who suffered injuries in recent years and his play was on the decline as well. Also, the Canucks have several young defenseman in their system that are near ready to play in the NHL, including Hutton. In an unpopular move, the Canucks dealt fan favorite Eddie Lack to Carolina for a 7th round pick in next year's draft. Lack was due to be paid big bucks upon his contract expiry at the end of the season and he was set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA). The Canucks had to choose between him and Markstrom and Markstrom won the backup job after the stellar season in the AHL. Also dealt was Nick Bonino in exchange for Sutter. Bonino was initially brought in to replace Kesler but he did not pan out. Finally, the Canucks dealt troubled winger Zack Kassian and a 5th round pick to Montreal for Winger Prust (see below for details). The Canucks elected not to re-sign three UFA's: Shawn Matthias (signed with the Maple Leafs for 1 year), center Brad Richardson (Signed for 3 years with the Coyotes) and minor leaguer Brandon DeFazio (signed 1 year deal with Boston)
M is for Must see games
The 2015-16 season should produce many great games. Here are 5 must see games for the Canucks
October 12 @ Anaheim
This will be an early test for the Canucks. They also get to be reunited with Bieksa and Ryan Kesler (dealt in 2014 to the Ducks). The Canucks must win these games vs. the Ducks. They have struggled in these games in recent years. Last season, the Canucks went 2-1-2 vs the ducks last season
October 18 vs. Edmonton
This will be Canucks fans first time seeing phenom Connor McDavid in a regular season game. The Oilers are hoping this is the year their off-season moves and draft choices finally come together at once, They picked up free agent goalie Cam Talbot, D Andrej Sekera, and C Mark Letestu. Historically, the Sedins have done well vs. the Oilers and Miller won all five starts vs. the Oilers last season. This could be a high-scoring game.
November 4 vs. Pittsburgh
The Penguins added sniper Phil Kessel in a massive trade from the Maple Leafs. He combines with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz to give the Penguins one of the most dangerous and expensive top lines in the league. That said, the Penguins also don't have much depth and their defense is not exactly top-end. This game will be a good test for the Canucks.
December 9 Vs, NY Rangers
Former coach Alain Vigneault brings a Rangers team that has had deep runs in the playoffs the past 2 seasons to Roger's arena. The Canucks team he faces looks different to the one he coached. Still with the team are the Sedins, Burrows, Hamhuis, Edler, Higgins, Edler, Tanev, Hansen, Dorsett, and Weber. Expect this to be a low-scoring game.
March 14 vs. Winnipeg
This game marks the first of two games vs. the Jets in 8 days (the Canucks travel to Winnipeg on the 22). With the Pacific division looking very tough this year with Calgary, Edmonton, Amaheim and LA likely to stand a great chance at the playoffs, the Canucks could be fighting the Jets for one of 2 wildcard spots. The Jets ice a strong team that should give the Canucks fits.
N is for new as in new players acquired via draft/trade/free agency on the roster to start the season
The Canucks big acquisition was Brandon Sutter. He will essentially be replacing Bonino, who did not pan out as a second liner. Sutter had 33 points (21G 12A) in a 3rd line role with the Penguins last season. He looked good with the twins in game 1 vs. Calgary. Time will tell if the line works on a consistent basis. Prust (acquired in the Kassian trade from Montreal) will bring a level pf toughness to the Canucks. Desjardins plays his 4th line so if Prust wants to stay in the lineup he must contribute in other ways besides fighting. Journeyman Adam Cracknell will be a 4th liner. In 17 games last season he had a single assist. The Canucks are hoping his time in the AHL taught him enough to be a solid contributer. Bartkowski was signed as a free agent for one year. The one concern about Bartkowski is the Bruins scratched him for 17 straight games. Can Bartkowski not be a defensive liability? Time will tell.
O is for Offence
The Canucks lost 50 goals in their off-season moves, most notably Kassian and Bonino. They are hoping that Sutter finds chemistry with the Sedins to start with. Failing that, they will likely try him on the second line and plug Burrows or Vrbata with the Sedins. There is no question that the Sedins will be a cornerstone of the Canucks offense. As well, the defense has to chip in with goals as well. Too often last season, the Canucks were caught trying the home run pass and it was picked off. Players have to support each other. Guys like Hansen who maybe aren't as gifted with their hands need to drive the net and go for the dirty goal off a goalmouth scramble or rebound. The season will be a failure if the Sedins are asked to do all the scoring and other lines don't contribute. Look for Vrbata to be motivated to have a good year as he is on an expiring contract.
P is for Power Play
It is critical that one takes advantage of opportunities with the man advantage. Scoring at a consistent rate with the power play can make a team change the way they play to avoid taking a penalty. This in turn can mean players have more time and space than they normally would at even strength. In recent years, the power play has been a major weakness of the Canucks game. Far too often, the Canucks are too predictable or they try and force shots through that have little or no chance of success. Defenders like Edler have to improve their accuracy on the power play. Often times, if the first power play unit (Sedins, Vrbata, Edler and Burrows) don't score, the power play fails. The Canucks don't have much depth in terms of scoring. Last season, the Canucks were successful 19.3% of the time (tied for 8th best in the NHL). By contrast, in the 2010-11 season when they led the league in PP success rate of 24.3%.
Q is for quality as in quality effort
With an older lineup on average, the Canucks are going to have their off-nights. In a conference and division as tight as the West and Pacific, the Canucks need to manage the minutes of their veterans. Coach Desjardins has proven he will roll four lines. The veterans like Hank and Dank know how hard they need to practice and when they need to take days off for maintenance. Undoubtedly, the coaches will impose maintenance days throughout the season, Remember, the season is an 82 game marathon, not a sprint.
R is for Rookie
Every year the Canucks vow to give their younger players a chance in the regular season. However, almost every time a journeyman veteran gets the final spot. This year, things were different. Three young players cracked the Canucks opening night lineup: Jake Virtanen, Jared McCann and Ben Hutton. McCann and Hutton were in the lineup vs Calgary Wednesday night. Virtanen has had some great battles vs. McDavid both in junior and at the young Stars tournament. Virtanen laid out McDavid in the tournament's opening game. It is likely one or both of McCann and Virtanen will be sent back to their junior clubs, as both are too young to play in the AHL. Hutton looked good vs. Calgary. He set up Hansen with a beautiful outlet pass for the game's opening goal. Hutton was on the ice and out of position on Calgary's only goal but he'll learn from the mistake. It's great that the Canucks are integrating their youth into their lineup because in the next few years they will be the future of the Canucks when the Sedins/Burrows/Hansen retire.
S is for Stanley Cup
Of course this is the ultimate goal of every team. The Canucks will be in tough to even make the playoffs. As mentioned above, 4 of the 5 division rivals added big pieces to their lineup: Flames Dougie Hamilton, Oilers Talbot and McDavid, Ducks Bieksa and Kings Milan Lucic. The Canucks are transitioning their veteran core and incorporating younger players. Their fourth line is weaker than last season. In goal, there is great question over whether starter Miller can hold up physically and whether back-up Markstrom can perform competently in the NHL.
T is for Trophy as in individual awards
This year's team is unlikely to get any individual awards at season's end. The Sedins are both former Art Ross winners (Henrik in 2010 and Daniel in 2011). No Canuck has ever won a Norris trophy for top defenseman although Edler has been in conversations though not very seriously. Starting goalie Miller has won the Vezina trophy as top goalie (2010). I think the team would trade any individual awards for the big award (Stanley Cup)
U is for unsung hero
An unsung hero is defined as someone who does great things without being praised. The Sedins fit this definition both on and off the ice. They unselfishly donated 1.5 million to the Canucks foundation to be put towardsa pediatric ICU and diagnostic imaging. On the ice, the Sedins go about their business, not expecting much in return. As well, the Twins have left money on the table in contract negotiations so the Canucks could sign other free agents to stay competitive. Undoubtedly, when the Sedins retire in a few years #33 and #22 will be up in the rafters at Roger's Arena.
V is for Vrbata, Radim
W is for Willie Desjardins
X is for X factor
There are several X factors. First, the Canucks must win the games they are supposed to win (Arizona, Florida, Carolina, etc.). The Pacific division is poised to be extremely competitive. It could easily take 100 points just to make the playoffs. Another X factor is managing the minutes of veteran players. The temptation is going to be to play the Sedins early and often if the rest of the lineup fails to produce. In goal, Desjardins must trust his backup goalie. Miller is coming off a knee injury and he is the oldest starting goalie in the NHL. Faceoffs must be a focus in practice. I cannot understate how critical it is to win a faceoff on a consistent basis. Last season the Stanley Cup winning Blackhawks were 5th in the league winning 52% of the draws as a team, the Canucks were 29th @ 46%. Only the liwly Buffalo Sabres were worse 44%. It wastes so much energy trying to get the puck back that when you do your team needs to change lines right away. If the Canucks overcome these X factors they should have a successful season.
Y is for Yannick Weber
Weber will be a key defenseman for the Canucks for 2 reasons. First he is a right-handed shot. Second, Weber is a versatile defenseman who can play in all situations, PP, PK, and vs. the opponent's 2nd tier. Look for Weber to platoon in/out of the lineup with Sbisa and Hutton. Whichever two of the three are playing well at the given time will play consistently game to game. The Canucks surprised many pundits last year but a lot of things have to go their way to repeat that performance of last season.
Z is for Zack Kassian
Although Zack Kassian is not a Canuck this year, I decided to include him for a personal reason. Kassian was recently suspended by the league indefinitely for being a passenger in his own vehicle driven by a 20 year old. He is currently in stage 2 of the NHL's substance abuse program. I do not abuse drugs or alcohol but have a friend who does. For anyone who struggles with drug/alcohol addiction, you are not alone. Talk to your doctor or go to emergency for help. I will also say it is too early to say if the Canucks won this trade. We need to see Prust play a few games before judging him.
Enjoy the season and Go Canucks Go
Labels: #GoCanucksgo, 2015-16 A-to-Z Guide, Vancouver Canucks
posted by opinionator777 at 10:49 PM
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