[Poll] The Canucks X-factors

[Ossi Vaananen]

I'm curious to know which X-factors if any, the fan-base believes could help the Canucks this next season. Could it be Rodin or Larsen coming over from Europe, or one of our existing young guys making the jump? Will Burrows regain his former self? Will Sbisa finally become a top 4 defenseman?

 

The way I see it, much of this season's success will depend upon some x-factors seemingly being gifted roster spots. I wanted to make a poll for each one being successful or not, but there are too many to include in the 5 poll limit. So, I've grouped them - young guys, guys coming over from Europe, and a few individual polls.

 

I'm excited for training camp, to see if these guys can carve out significant roles. 

[-Vintage Canuck-]

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Which European transfer will have the most impact?

Nikita Tryamkin. He has already gotten a taste of NHL hockey last season, so it should be an easy transition for him as to what to expect and the comfort of playing on NHL ice. I feel if Anton Rodin does make it, the first few weeks or months is going to be a bit tough for him playing in a different country, with a new team, coach, and also adapting to the team culture and playing style.

 

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Which returning young player will have the most impact?

Emerson Etem. At times last year, he had a lot of scoring chances but just couldn't finish bury them. Granlund is pretty close, but I think Etem will be the surprising one.

 

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Will Burrows have a resurgent season?

Maybe. If not, the leadership he will bring to the locker room will be enough value, to go along with his on-ice production.

 

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Will Gaunce make the team out of camp?

I think this is the year he makes it. It's going to be tough beating out a few NHL regulars, but he could be our 13th forward this year.

 

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Will Sbisa improve this season?

With the amount of hate Luca Sbisa gets, I think he is a solid top-six defenceman. I think he will improve as long as he play a simple, physical game and doesn't try doing too much.

[PhillipBlunt]

Tryamkin will continue to improve. His play last year showed that he has the ability to adapt quickly to the NHL style of play. Combine that with zero fear of any player on the ice (why would he?) and Nikita's career will take another incremental step. 

 

Virtanen knows that there is a lot riding on him continuing to mature as a player. I think he is fully aware of it and wants to make the most of it. 

 

Burrows is declining. He won't have a monumental season. Those days are behind him. He's there to mentor now. 

 

Gaunce has the size, skill, and smarts to win a spot this year. Can't see who's realistically standing in his way. 

 

Sbisa won't improve, and that's okay. He won't have to if he's kept in a 5-6 spot role on the defense. He had a horrible time last year because he was playing out of his depth. As a bottom pairing defenseman, he's a threat. 

[Cramarossa]

25 minutes ago, -Vintage Canuck- said:

Nikita Tryamkin. He has already gotten a taste of NHL hockey last season, so it should be an easy transition for him as to what to expect and the comfort of playing on NHL ice. I feel if Anton Rodin does make it, the first few weeks or months is going to be a bit tough for him playing in a different country, with a new team, coach, and also adapting to the team culture and playing style.

 

Emerson Etem. At times last year, he had a lot of scoring chances but just couldn't finish bury them. Granlund is pretty close, but I think Etem will be the surprising one.

 

Maybe. If not, the leadership he will bring to the locker room will be enough value, to go along with his on-ice production.

 

I think this is the year he makes it. It's going to be tough beating out a few NHL regulars, but he could be our 13th forward this year.

 

With the amount of hate Luca Sbisa gets, I think he is a solid top-six defenceman. I think he will improve as long as he play a simple, physical game and doesn't try doing too much.

Couldn't have said it better, VC.

[-AJ-]

I honestly think the biggest X-Factor for us lies with Hutton and Baertschi. I see both of these guys as men who could become stars in the NHL, but are still far from sure things. Hutton seems to be a solid top 4 guy, but I see him as a guy with top 2 potential. Baertschi too, has some great top 6 potential and could become a 25+ goal scorer some day. If both of these guys explode this year, that would be huge for us.

[smithers joe]

my vote goes to granlund.

[hlaevang]

Okay here is my take for what it is worth:

 

1) Nikita Tryamkin. We have been laughably light on the blueline for a number of years. He had a bit of an adjustment coming over from Russia but he certainly made his presence known by the end of last season. I am looking for him to show some improvement on last season. Also, having him for the entire season is going to be phenomenal.

2) I chose Jake for this section. Honestly it could potentially go either way with these three but Jake has added more muscle to his frame and is at least showing that he is hungry enough to stay on the big club this year. How that translates for his development, only time will tell.

3) Honestly, with the amount of talent ahead of him I find it hard to see him bouncing back points wise. Realistically, he is likely to be in the bottom six and his decline in production could be due to his age. I am not saying that he can't bounce back just that it is going to take a lot of work for him to do so.

4) I too am going to say that Gaunce makes the team out of camp. He was incredibly close to making the team last year and I expect that he will be eager to win a spot on opening night.

5) Sbisa.... I am going to say that he doesn't improve. My reason for this is that I expect him to be the extra defenceman if all things go well. Tanev and Edler are set as our top pairing, at least for now, and it looks as though Hutton and Gudbranson are going to round out the top 4. That leave Tryamkin, Sbisa, Larson, Stecher and, to a lesser extent, Juolevi fighting out for the two remaining positions. And we cannot forget Pedan either who is waiver eligible this year. If Larson and Tryamkin impress at camp, then Sbisa will be resting in the press box until a trade happens. I agree that Sbisa is best suited for the bottom six but I just do not see him being as hungry as the younger guys  

[Mathew Barzal]

Tryamkin, already had a relatively solid showing for being thrown into the fray halfway through last season. I think Rodin performs averagely and Larsen busts.

 

Virtanen said he's worked on his shot a lot, I'm expecting a lot of his former crest snipes to start picking corners now.

 

No. Burrows is over the hill.

 

No. There's too much veteran depth to beat out.

 

No. Sbisa is what he is, a player whose play will inconsistently vary from terrible to average. He's an okay option as a 7th man.

[Ossi Vaananen]

1 hour ago, ajhockey said:

I honestly think the biggest X-Factor for us lies with Hutton and Baertschi. I see both of these guys as men who could become stars in the NHL, but are still far from sure things. Hutton seems to be a solid top 4 guy, but I see him as a guy with top 2 potential. Baertschi too, has some great top 6 potential and could become a 25+ goal scorer some day. If both of these guys explode this year, that would be huge for us.

Ya, I wrestled with including those guys but ultimately they have proven they are capable NHL players at worst. Those in the poll are expected to play NHL roles when they haven't necessarily proven it. 

 

Plus the poll limit is 5, so had to work around that constraint. Realistically, there's even more x-factors in Pedan's waiver status, if Sutter can come back effective from injury, and if Markstrom can carry a larger share of the games. Tonnes of question marks heading into this season. 

[numb3r 16]

Voted for virtanen but I know the etem trade will look good on JB soon.

[Salacious Crumb]

I'm gonna go off the board and say Jim Benning.

 

Is he able to deal from a position of strength regarding players on expiring contracts? Can he use the cap space available shrewdly by perhaps swinging a trade with a cap crunched team or a team that needs to make moves to avoid losing a player to expansion? This is year 3 of his contract so he basically has this season and next to earn an extension. 

[Hairy Kneel]

Mentoring?Can that be done in civie's?

[Jack Fig]

5 hours ago, PhillipBlunt said:

Tryamkin will continue to improve. His play last year showed that he has the ability to adapt quickly to the NHL style of play. Combine that with zero fear of any player on the ice (why would he?) and Nikita's career will take another incremental step. 

 

Virtanen knows that there is a lot riding on him continuing to mature as a player. I think he is fully aware of it and wants to make the most of it. 

 

Burrows is declining. He won't have a monumental season. Those days are behind him. He's there to mentor now. 

 

Gaunce has the size, skill, and smarts to win a spot this year. Can't see who's realistically standing in his way. 

 

Sbisa won't improve, and that's okay. He won't have to if he's kept in a 5-6 spot role on the defense. He had a horrible time last year because he was playing out of his depth. As a bottom pairing defenseman, he's a threat. 

Blunt, that post is so spot-on I feel like I wrote it myself. Training camp is here and you are DIALLED-IN. 

[PrinceGeorgeGoon]

Really good job on posting a relevant , interesting and fun thread with a host of great issues in the poll. Cudos.

[PhillipBlunt]

10 minutes ago, Jack Fig said:

Blunt, that post is so spot-on I feel like I wrote it myself. Training camp is here and you are DIALED-IN. 

Fig! Where the hell have you been? Glad to see you back. 

[Jack Fig]

4 minutes ago, PhillipBlunt said:

Fig! Where the hell have you been? Glad to see you back. 

I need my summers to decompress so I can come back harder and more-focused than ever. I know you know what I mean. 

[PhillipBlunt]

2 minutes ago, Jack Fig said:

I need my summers to decompress so I can come back harder and more-focused than ever. I know you know what I mean. 

Hell yes, Fig. I'm hitting the bell curve now. 

[Jack Fig]

3 minutes ago, PhillipBlunt said:

Hell yes, Fig. I'm hitting the bell curve now. 

Man needs to get out in the sun. To become One with the universe and re-establish himself within the rhythms of nature. But mostly he needs to get away from the relentless idiocy of this forum for an appreciable amount of time. 

But then, and only then, to return and recommence punting backside. 

[Dr. Crossbar]

The vote I had trouble with was Gaunce. Can see it both ways. Want to see him light it up. He can score. He needs to score.

[CRAZY_4_NAZZY]

1) I feel Anton will be given a lot of chances to succeed in an offensive role.  This team is starving for goals and Rodin has all the tools to be a good 15-20 goal scorer. Whether it translates or not and whether he can catch up to speed physically with his rehab on his leg. Plus he has the smarts to play a good two way game.  He has speed, some hands and good work ethic.  Even if he doesn't light the world on fire, he is just as a good of an option in the middle six.  I just don't see how Larsen will be able to get away with his inability to play a sound defensive game (which WD and management expect in each player) as good as his offensive game is.  And Nikita albeit got a taste last year, I'm not quite sold yet on his game.  He will get looks but i don't think he will be a regular this season to make enough of an impact.

 

2) Emerson Etem will be given every chance to make an impact.  If anything his last 10 games with Sven and Bo was a good sign of what he can do and become.  His speed and ability to forecheck is a value and WD seems to really be keen on giving him chances.  Can't be certain, but would like to think WD is going to give Etem long looks at a lot of places this year.

Virtanen IMO needs a year in Utica.  I know we need his grit, size and speed, but I'm not interested in putting him just because we need him now.  I prefer to develop him so he is at oozing readiness to make an impact later when it matters.  Granlund won't be able to do much with Sutter and Bo in front of him.  Not sure where he even fits on the team moving forward.

 

3) Yes, Burr can do it again.  Everybody talks about the effect of Sutter on Bo Horvat's role on the team, but Sutter had a big effect on Burrs game too.  You saw in the beginning how they develop a good chemistry together on a line.  When Sutsy went down, Burr was cycled through almost 5 centres last year (McCann, Horvat, Hank, Cracknell, Vey).  A healthy Sutter is a big bonus for Bo and Burr.

 

4) I would like to hope that Brendan Gaunce will be given every chance to make this team this fall.  But I don't see it happening.  With waivers in effect for several fringe guys, Benning should've learned his lesson from losing Corrado for nothing.  He won't do it again with Etem, Pedan, Granlund, Rodin etc.  Gaunce will have to really play well in order to force JB to knock someone down...maybe Jake Virtanen?  

 

5) If Sbisa can replicate what he did last season I will be happy.  Anything subpar from that will be pretty disappointing.  I do think he can be a tad bit better...he teases you with really good stuff...but those moments are too far and few from each other