Vancouver is No Good 3

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

The Canucks aren't playing very good from the highlights (lowlights) I have seen. They remind me of the team in 2021 when after the bubble everyone thought they would be the next big thing but then the mirage didn't last as the holes in the team became readily apparent. The fact that they are going with two average at best backups really makes the team's defensive deficiencies very evident. They haven't been able to develop any defensemen so they have to use the UFA market to go bargain shopping and that isn't a recipe for success.

Good NHL teams have players who play above their contracts. Mediocre teams hope that players play to the level of their UFA contracts.

[Vinny01]

The 2024 Canucks reminded me a lot of the 2022 Flames in the sense the team blew the doors off expectations and some inconsistent stars looked dominant at times. I don’t think they are near as good as last year nor do I think they are as bad as they were in years past.

[Johnny Makarov]

They won't make the playoffs this year. Plus Petterson's contract is going to make Hubeys look like a steal.

and thanks for all the prospects! lol

[Paulie Walnuts]

Coaching is a big issue for that team as well.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Coaching is a big issue for that team as well.

Parlay boy is in way over his head!

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

So long and thanks for all the prospects! lol

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Coaching is a big issue for that team as well.

I don't see how anyone can know that considering he has had around a single year and won the Jack Adams trophy. It is possible that he flames out similar to Bob Hartley but he doesn't seem to be an ####### the way that Hartley was.

Who really knows what goes on in the dressing room.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

The Jack Adams is a curse.

[activeStick]

I don't think it's a coaching issue, though I do see issues with how hard Tocchet rides his guys. His insistence in playing Demko last season I feel was definitely a reason he doesn't have Demko available to him now and his injury, and it would appear he hasn't learned from it based on the minutes he's playing Hronek and Hughes only 3 games into the season. I was shocked to see Hughes played over 26 minutes the other night, but when I brought it up, one of my buddies mentioned that in a previous game, Hughes had played 30!!

I get that Forbort and Juulsen are a scary bottom pair, but you still probably shouldn't be playing your top guys 24+ minutes every game.

EDIT - Just to add, I think their biggest issue this season will be not having Demko for significant stretches and that their GM did nothing to shore up their D. Desharnais was not the answer and shouldn't have been an answer and they did nothing to address the bottom pair. With no Demko, they needed really, really strong D, which is going to be a risk for them all year long.

[Kidder]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I don't see how anyone can know that considering he has had around a single year and won the Jack Adams trophy.

Oof, didn’t realize he won last year. Yeah Canucks are toast this season.

[dino7c]

He certainly blew it with Kuzmenko, coaches need to realize not every player is a 4th line grinder

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

They won't make the playoffs this year. Plus Petterson's contract is going to make Hubeys look like a steal.

and thanks for all the prospects! lol

Assuming the Oilers and Knights finish in the top two spots, they only have to be better than the Kings and Kraken to make the playoffs.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Assuming the Oilers and Knights finish in the top two spots, they only have to be better than the Kings and Kraken to make the playoffs.

Canucks opting out?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Assuming the Oilers and Knights finish in the top two spots, they only have to be better than the Kings and Kraken to make the playoffs.

You mean Flames not Oilers

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Assuming the Oilers and Knights finish in the top two spots, they only have to be better than the Kings and Kraken to make the playoffs.

and the Flames

[Galakanokis]

Vancouver's D is atrocious. Only Hughes and Hronek are legit top 4 guys and Myers top 6. The rest are suspect. And not having Demko is a massive low. He's a top goaltender and not having having him changes the way the team plays. I still think they have solid forward depth with high end talent but the D will hold them back.

Petterson has not looked good. Is the knee still a concern or has he checked out? Not much there when he is not producing.

[McG]

I appreciate how signing desharnais has weakened 2 teams.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Both Edmonton and Vancouver overachieved last season.

Dropped into the eastern conference they'd have as much PO success as the Maple Leafs.

Nashville wasn't a playoff caliber team but the west was just that bad last year. Central teams beat up each other to pave the way for the losers.

[Paulie Walnuts]

The Oilers had a historic win streak, and 2 other big win streaks that can't be replicated. That was just to get them to 99 points.

Vancouver went on a PDO heater that was going to cool down. You can't expect your team to score 4 goals on 20 shots every game.

They proceeded to meet in the 2nd round in the worst 7 game series of all time.

[activeStick]

Listening to Halford and Brough this morning, and while it is early, there's definitely some concern in Vancouver since in their view, Pettersson hasn't been the same ever since all of that contract talk last season started. That's a very long time to have such a sustained drop off in play. Also, I don't know if it was Halford or Brough, but one of them is also cheering for Huberdeau and hoping he re-finds his game and keeps up this early season success.