DutchSenators

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam • Netherlands • 28 Years Old • Male

Ain't that bad in Vancouver

Vancouver had a great start to the season with a 3-0-0 record which surprised most of the so-called hockey ‘experts’. While part of the successful start can be related to luck (the Canucks haven’t been in the lead for a single minute so far) they are also playing quite good hockey (best 5v5 Corsi in the league). But is the successful start really a surprise? Not really… And why do most people think the Canucks are to finish dead last? True, their management has done far from a perfect job but there is still enough quality on the roster.

Here are the 2 reasons why the Vancouver Canucks will fight for a play-off spot until the end (and probably just end up short):

1) Their team is simply much better than last year.

The roster of the heroic win against St. Louis on 18 october was as follows:

D. Sedin – H. Sedin – Eriksson
Baertschi – Horvat – Skille
Granlund – Sutter – Hansen
Burrows – Gaunce – Dorsett

Edler – Tanev
Hutton – Gudbranson
Sbisa – Larsen

Markstrom

Comparing to last year their first line has improved with the addition of Eriksson; Vrbata was clearly done. They have Sutter back, who was a spare part on a great Pittsburgh roster but is playing very good hockey for the Canucks. Horvat is better and more responsible than he was last year. Granlund is better than advertised; the same goes for Hansen. Their fourth line is the best in years. Only thing that you can say about the forward core is that they miss two top 6 wingers but this has been the case for quite some years now.

The D core may be similar to last year even though they lost Hamhuis. Edler – Tanev is a nice duo, Hutton is further than he was last year and Gudbranson (although overpaid for him) is a decent addition.

Markstrom is much better than Miller and should claim the number 1 spot as the season goes along.

So, their team has clearly improved, especially up front, but people have them finishing last? Last year the Canucks finished 6th in the Pacific with 75 points. With a better team and an awesome first line I expect them to get 7 to 10 points more.

2) The Pacific Division is brutal.

Assuming the Canucks will get 85 points, how will that bring them close to a play-off spot? Simply because the Pacific Division is worse than last year. The Sharks will clearly run away with the division title and Edmonton will take the second spot (although they are still not close to being a contender). So the third spot is up for grabs. This because of horrible management in Anaheim, a Kings team that has a lack of offense (and no Quick), Calgary giving up still too many goals and Arizona being a very young team. All these teams are already behind the Canucks in points and are worse compared to last season (Anaheim, Los Angeles) or are a young team that has improved but lacking decent depth (Calgary, Arizona). I think all these teams will have a hard time cracking 90 points or more and thus there is a chance for the Canucks to claim a play-off spot.

These two points are simply facts. I don’t think anyone can argue that the Canucks didn’t have a good off season and are a better team now than they were last season. Additionally, the Pacific Division clearly contains less quality than last season. The Canucks will probably get 80 points or more and that will be enough to contend for a play-off spot, contrary to tanking for last place.

If you think differently (or agree) about the chances of the Canucks please comment (with arguments).

Thanks for reading.

DutchSenators.

Disclaimer: I might be a bit biased writing this blog. Although I’m a Senators fan, the reason I started watching hockey in the first place was seeing the Sedin twins play around 2002; their chemistry was and still is unreal. In general I think I can be quite objective as an outside hockey enthusiast (European and thus not biased towards city or country).

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