Comparing 2011 and 2015 Teams and Seeing if We Have a Shot

[Orka]

Willies line rolling is going to be the difference maker between the two teams. Our players this year are super fresh going into the playoffs.

This team picks there spots well and each player knows their role and they all work as a team.

[48MPHSlapShot]

OK it's not pasting well on my phone but just look. That division was weak... Only Vancouver made the playoffs from the Northwest.

Don't get me wrong. Not bashing the 2011 team. In my opinion one of the top 3 nhl teams assembled in the post cap era and the division was weak because Vancouver was the juggernaut pummelling those sorry teams. But their competition has been far stiffer this year and playing under a new system. They've gotten rolling and they are as good if not better than the 2011 team overall.

NORTHWESTGPWLOTPROW

1VANCOUVER p825419911750

2CALGARY824129129432

3MINNESOTA82393588636

4COLORADO82304486824

5EDMONTON822545126223

Our record that year against the rest of the league was pretty damn good.

No, stats don't tell the whole story, but they certainly tell their share of it. This year has been great. They rebounded nicely, some young guys are finally starting to crack the lineup and contribute. All in all, a great season. HOWEVER, this team will most likely be eliminated within the first two rounds. Obviously, I hope I'm wrong, but it is what it is. I just hope getting knocked out somewhat early doesn't mar the fact that this season was a MASSIVE success.

The 2011 team had a much better, and much deeper defense, and the goaltending was top of the league.

[Quoted]

I don't care how many points the twins put up during the regular season in 2011.they look and seem different this year. They seem to have push back and fight in their game. This and a vastly improved 4th line will be the different maker this year. I also think the 2nd line looks better as an overall line with Vrbata

I think in 2011 they were higher-end, pure point producers. The 2015 version sees them less at the top of their games for points, but more rounded, mature players.

[apollo]

Our record that year against the rest of the league was pretty damn good.

No, stats don't tell the whole story, but they certainly tell their share of it. This year has been great. They rebounded nicely, some young guys are finally starting to crack the lineup and contribute. All in all, a great season. HOWEVER, this team will most likely be eliminated within the first two rounds. Obviously, I hope I'm wrong, but it is what it is. I just hope getting knocked out somewhat early doesn't mar the fact that this season was a MASSIVE success.

The 2011 team had a much better, and much deeper defense, and the goaltending was top of the league.

Like I said. I didn't mean to bash the 2011 team and they are one of the 3 best teams assembled in the post cap era.

I meant to reply to your comment that they were leading in so many categories. The stats were padded by their weak division. Had the 2015 canucks played in the east, certainly they would have won the president trophy this year.

[*Buzzsaw*]

The 2015 team only has two advantages:

1) We have two solid goaltenders, either of which could get hot and stone the opposition. In 2011, there was only Lu and Lu wasn't a streak goaltender... he plays a much more consistent style. A very high standard, but both Miller and Lack are guys who could get on a hot streak and take us deep.

2) We have more depth in the event of injuries. I believe if we can get Kassian, Richardson and Mattias back, and have Kenins, Baertschi, Clendening and Corrado as backups, plus all the others, we will not lose a lot if anyone goes down.

But the 2011 team was just a lot younger and a lot more at their peak and overall a much better team.

[supermanbieksa]

2011 team was better, no question. Sedins were better, Kesler was a beast and take a look at the defence, Hamhuis was better back then, Ehrhoff was brilliant when at his best, Salo was rock solid and Edler was more of an offensive threat back then.

[*Buzzsaw*]

There are the intangibles which might affect the way the playoffs go this year.

For example, Calgary may just fold... they are a young team and may lose their composure.

And Winnipeg may upset Anaheim... or beat them up so badly the Canucks have a much easier path. We have the Blues number, and we play well against Chicago.

If we get lucky like in '82, we may make it to the finals. (I don't count '94 as lucky)

And once we are there, I think we match up against the Rangers or Montreal well.

But it's gonna take a LOT of puck bounces and good luck for us to get there.

[hellosinki]

2011 was a much better team than 2015 (period)

I don't know what so many people have against AV. He led us to 2 president trophies in a row, and the Stanley Cup Final once. He even has led the Rangers to the final and won the President's trophy this year. The only thing he doesn't have is a Cup, but other than that, his achievements are ones that most rookie coaches would dream of.

[Jetliner]

2015 all the way cuz we livin in the present . yea

[Pears]

And I think one thing you could argue is we actually have a 100% healthy bottom six heading into the playoffs, whereas in 2011 Manny was injured.

Matthias - Richardson - Dorsett/Kassian

Kenins - Horvat - Hansen

And IMO, on paper that looks better than the 2011 bottom six. But everything else a healthy 2011 teams blows a healthy 2015 team out of the water.

[Lancaster]

The 2011 team is better on paper, but the 2015 team does have a couple of advantageous.

This year's team actually has a 4th line, whereas under AV he was reluctant to even do anything with it. Playing Bolduc instead of Hodgson being one.

The current team also isn't reliant on the PP. In 2011, the refs decided to not call penalties in the Boston series... or at least only call them when they're off-setting.

[GreyHatnDart]

I think this team has a lot of youthful spirit and a huge will to win. I'd frankly be shocked if we see a complete collapse a la 2011.

A few troubling things with this year:

The way we built leads during this season, take our foot off the gas and piss games away. Calgary is ferocious in 3rd periods, and while we're no slouches ourselves, we absolutely cannot afford to start coasting with leads.

Our defence is glaringly weak, and doesn't even come close to how good it was in 2011. Not even in the same ballpark imo. While another poster pointed out we are much deeper up front in the case of injuries (and they will happen) our D doesn't have the same luxury. If we lose 2 out of our top 4 we'll be in big trouble. (Yeah I remember Edler and Tanev both being out at the same time this season, but playoffs is a completely different animal).

Some huge positives though, is that we're going in mostly healthy. Did I read somewhere Richardson was going hard at practice today? Kassian seems to be still a question mark but we've done well without him so far. The great thing about him is when he comes back, he could prove to be a difference maker. Fingers crossed.

A healthy Lack and Miller is going to be a pretty awesome tandem. I'd put the two of them, Millers rust aside, against just about any other team. I mean, Miller/Lack vs Ramo/Hiller? No contest imo.

Back to the topic, that team was younger and faster. I don't think it's much of a comparison.

[Scorvat]

I chose this years lines better than 2011 because we have a way better coach this year than av who got us swept against kings in his final year of coaching here in our team. So this years team >>>>>>>>>>2011 team

AV is making a strong pitch to be number 1. In last 5 years he has won 3 presidents trophies, 2 finals appearences, and hasn't missed the playoffs in how long?... plus when he left the Canucks, they missed the playoffs the following year. The team he went to missed the playoff the year before, and AV brang the to the SCF the next year.

Yes WD is proving to be a great coach. But AV>>>>>>WD in my opinion

[*Buzzsaw*]

AV is a great coach, and he is probably more of a tactical and strategy coach than WD. It is no coincidence the teams he runs do well.

But we shouldn't under-rate Willie. He may give the appearance at times of being a hayseed and out of his depth, but I believe there is more to him than meets the eye in a typical press conference.

He has a very good instinct for what works, and he imparts positive feelings to his players which a lot of more cerebral coaches miss out on. He makes the players feel confident he is not going to jump all over them for the small stuff. Bringing Edler back from the black pit of zero confidence is no small accomplishment... and he has managed some other smaller miracles with Canucks whose last year was also a disaster.

The team likes playing for him, and that is a big plus when going into key games. They know he has their backs.

[howswedeitis76]

2011 team was better in terms of top end talent. If we had started Schneider in Boston, we'd have a cup. And no, that is not blaming Luo. That's all on Vigneault and possibly management. He was obviously rattled in Boston, and therefore NOT our best option in net. In Vancouver, that's a different story.

But back to the poll - Sedins were better, but not by much.

Kesler, Samuelsson, and Higgins? better, but not by much (Vrbata on the second nearly ties it up)

3rd line - depends - grit wise, 2015 is better. Scoring talent -2011.

4th line - hell, 2015 by a land slide

goal - I'd like to say Lack and Miller, but Luongo and Schneider were Masterton (I think that's the name of the trophy for top goalie tandem?) winners that year. I think Lack and Miller are the best tandem in the playoffs this year, though, and that's saying something. The problem is you can't put both of them in at once, so that might be moot facing a Carey Price or a Pekka Rinne.

[dejavu_2011]

The 2011 team was and still is the best team we have ever had! We were so close to the cup, the only thing that kept us from lifting Lord Stanley was a mix of the refs, injuries, and some bad luck. The 94 team was also special. However, let's just enjoy the fact that we are in the playoffs again! I would love it if we could match even half of Detroit's current playoff streak! 24 consecutive years of making the playoffs.... freaking unbelievable!

[Tragoedia]

2011 was a magical team. Teams like those are true rarities. Many franchises never get to experience that level of dominance and it was a complete upset us losing in the finals.

I love this team, but we were better in 2011. We'll see how good we are this year, but no matter what we do that will be the strongest team we've ever iced in franchise history. 1994 also probably has dibs on at least the second best.

That's no knock on us. I don't care if we ice the best team in franchise history, I just want us to win.

That is all that matters.

[mbal23]

Voted yes to all.

[Zuongo]

This is stupid. Can we lock rubbish like this? For gods sake you people are nutters

[kchengc]

if Manny Malhotra was included in that 2011 3rd line (which would have bumped Lapierre down to the 4th), 2011's 3rd would kick 2015's 3rd and the 4th lines wouldn't be that far off. Mind you, Raymond had 15G and 39P that season!!!

In my opinion, 2011's team would have dominated 2015's team if healthy. However, 2015's team may be able to absorb a few more injuries if we were to lose a Malhotra, Samuelsson, Hamhuis, Rome, etc. in this year's run (e.g. Richardson, Higgins, Hamhuis, Bieksa, etc.)