Ossi Vaananen Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Link: https://www.nhl.com/news/vancouver-canucks-2016-17-season-preview/c-282248016 Projected lineup: Quote Forwards Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Loui Eriksson Sven Baertschi - Bo Horvat - Jannik Hansen Alexandre Burrows - Brandon Sutter - Anton Rodin Emerson Etem - Markus Granlund - Derek Dorsett Jake Virtanen Defensemen Alexander Edler - Christopher Tanev Ben Hutton - Erik Gudbranson Luca Sbisa - Philip Larsen Nikita Tryamkin Goalies Ryan Miller Jacob Markstrom Richard Bachman Article: Quote The Vancouver Canucks are coming off their worst season in 17 years and need significant improvements at both ends of the ice to make up the gap that separated them from a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Canucks made a bid to rebuild the roster during the offseason by acquiring rugged defenseman Erik Gudbranson from the Florida Panthers for center Jared McCann and two draft picks, and signed 31-year-old free agent forward Loui Eriksson to a six-year, $36 million contract. Following a season that ended with some players wondering if the focus of the Canucks was developing young talent or making the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Benning and coach Willie Desjardins have made it clear: The focus is now on winning. On defense, the Canucks need their top pair of Christopher Tanev and Alexander Edler to stay healthy after Edler missed 30 games last season with a fractured leg. Vancouver also needs its second pair of Ben Hutton and Gudbranson, who play with different styles, to jell quickly, and a third pair with Luca Sbisa and incoming power-play specialist Philip Larsen to at least tread water at even strength. The Canucks are counting on 36-year-old twins Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin to stay healthy and keep driving offense on the top line and power play, with Eriksson almost certain to start the season on their right side but likely to move around to spark other lines as needed. Vancouver needs its interchangeable middle two lines to provide offense, with Brandon Sutter likely to shoulder tougher defensive matchups on one line in the hopes it frees up Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi to build off their second-half scoring from last season on another line. The Canucks also believe Anton Rodin, who was the Swedish League MVP last season, can chip in as a top-nine forward for a team that scored the second fewest goals in the NHL last season. Add in steady goaltending from 36-year-old No. 1 Ryan Miller and a push from backup Jacob Markstrom, the Canucks management believes it has enough on the roster to prove last season's precipitous fall to 28th in the NHL was a blip, and not a sign of things to come. Why they should make the Stanley Cup Playoffs If the Canucks stay healthy, the Sedins continue to carry the offense, and newcomers Eriksson and Larsen can spark a power play that finished in the bottom third of the NHL three of the past four seasons. Why they could miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs Even if Gudbranson helps the Canucks in front of their own net, Vancouver appears short on puck-moving defensemen who can help break out cleanly and contribute offensively. Though the defensive depth has improved with Nikita Tryamkin, few seem suited to fill in for any injuries among the top four. Breakout candidate Defenseman Philip Larsen. He hasn't played in the NHL since 2013-14 and has eight goals and 23 assists in 125 games over five seasons with the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars, but the Canucks are hoping the right-shot defenseman, 26, can help a top power play anchored by Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin up front. Larsen has to prove he can handle regular third-pair minutes 5-on-5, but he should get a chance to prove the 11 goals and 25 points he scored in 52 Kontinental Hockey League games last season can translate on the power play. On the hot seat Defenseman Erik Gudbranson. He has value as a physical top-four defenseman whose leadership, toughness and intangibles make up for an apparent lack of offensive upside. The Canucks are counting on him to control the front of their net but will need him to control play better than his NHL possession numbers, including a 46.43 shot attempt percentage last season, indicate. Trophy candidates Henrik Sedin (Art Ross Trophy) Quotable "The things management did in the offseason to make us better now is something that really sent a message to our dressing room about what we're about: We're here to win." -- center Brandon Sutter Reasonable article from NHL's standards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'NucK™ Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 1 hour ago, Ossi Vaananen said: Reasonable article from NHL's standards. Agreed. Surprised the "why they should make the playoffs" tab wasn't left blank Too much Larsen talk though. No way he's going to do enough for our PP to warrant mentioning him alongside newcomer Eriksson. And IMO Baerstchi is the obvious breakout candidate - or even Rodin, before Larsen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd. Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 I would give the breakout candidate to Horvat in all honesty. I feel like this is the season he'll hit 50+ points. Especially if he's playing with Baertschi, Rodin, Eriksson possibly, Hansen, etc and gets PP time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJDDawg Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Fair and unbiased read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davathor Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 The loser point was generous to us last season... If guddy and Eriksson don't work out we will be in for a tough season. I think our key to the playoffs is injuries though. Sutter is a top 6 guy we have only seen glimpses of.. and if our secondary scoring runs dry id like to see him with the Sedins for a bit. If our D stays healthy we can get there. Really pulling for Tryamkin to make his presence felt and make the roster. Lots to be excited about this year! Hockey season is upon us boys! GO CANUCKS GO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Mind Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Gotta love the typo in the sub-header. "Eric Gudbranson". The rest of the article was surprisingly not so doom and gloomy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainhorvat Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Canucks will surprise alot of people this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam126 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Good article, though I think Rodin or Baer would be better candidates for a breakout. Also think Hutton is responsible for moving the puck up at least for the Hutton-Gudbranson pairing. Other than that, it's a fair read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Quote Vancouver also needs its second pair of Ben Hutton and Gudbranson, who play with different styles, to jell quickly, and a third pair with Luca Sbisa and incoming power-play specialist Philip Larsen to at least tread water at even strength. Snicker. Gonna name the tandem of Hutton and Gudbranson The Puddin' Pops. Hutton can be Wild Cherry and Gudbranson can be Rocky Road. edit: well I'll be damned, you can actually use jell or gel. Wonder if that's a British/American thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysACanuckFan Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Pretty good article which is honestly fair IMO. I think a Baertschi Horvat Rodin or a Baertschi Horvat Virtanen line itself could have a break out year, with Horvat leading the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam126 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 5 minutes ago, AlwaysACanuckFan said: Pretty good article which is honestly fair IMO. IMO I think a Baertschi Horvat Rodin line itself could have a break out year, if not then anyone of those players will have a break out year. I personally would like to see a Baertschi-Horvat-Virtanen line. But that line looks pretty good too. Rodin would be a lethal sniper on the PP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanuck Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 I appreciate Henrik as much as anyone, but this guy lost his credibility when he mentioned him & Art Ross in the same sentence. Sorry, not a knock on Henrik, just a reality check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam126 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 2 minutes ago, Fanuck said: I appreciate Henrik as much as anyone, but this guy lost his credibility when he mentioned him & Art Ross in the same sentence. Sorry, not a knock on Henrik, just a reality check. Yeah, I was puzzled too when I saw that. Henrik is still a very good player, maybe still even elite but he's not winning an Art Ross anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bur14Kes17 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 1 hour ago, Odd. said: I would give the breakout candidate to Horvat in all honesty. I feel like this is the season he'll hit 50+ points. Especially if he's playing with Baertschi, Rodin, Eriksson possibly, Hansen, etc and gets PP time. It's kinda hard to call Horvat hitting 50 points a "breakout season" when he had 40 last year. 60 Points would be a Break Out season. Regardless if he hits 55 that would still be a really great improvement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsofthands Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 you can tell that the people who write these basically just summarize other articles. They probably haven't watched any canucks games or made any opinions by themselves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 I'm excited for the season to start. Gudbranson and Larsen, if he makes the team, can either be game changers or game breakers, if you know what I mean. I really, truly hope that they preform well. The only problem is the 2017 free agency will be terrible for us with BoHo, Guddy, Virt and more coming off the books. I truly hope that they perform well enough to get us into the playoffs, but who wants a bridge deal and who wants a gaudreau deal is the real question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mll Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 16 minutes ago, drsofthands said: you can tell that the people who write these basically just summarize other articles. They probably haven't watched any canucks games or made any opinions by themselves The author is Kevin Woodley - he's featured quite a few times on Canucks TV over the past years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pears Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 1 hour ago, Jam126 said: I personally would like to see a Baertschi-Horvat-Virtanen line. But that line looks pretty good too. Rodin would be a lethal sniper on the PP. Sedin-Sedin-Virtanen Edler-Eriksson Baertschi-Horvat-Rodin Hutton-Gudbranson That could work pretty well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsofthands Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 33 minutes ago, mll said: The author is Kevin Woodley - he's featured quite a few times on Canucks TV over the past years. well then hes way off, philip larsen as our breakout candidate? He's not even good enough to play in the nhl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crabcakes Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 54 minutes ago, mll said: The author is Kevin Woodley - he's featured quite a few times on Canucks TV over the past years. Woodley has written balanced and fair articles about the Canucks before. He clearly goes against the grain and arrives at his opinions by himself. Many writers are afraid to have their own opinions and take the approach that @drsofthands is criticising. Hanks Art Ross days are clearly behind him. Other than that, the article is good. The line up is pretty much what most on CDC have predicted. Now, through camp, we may see a few of the players like Burrows and Etem with their jobs in jeopardy from the likes of Gaunce and Skille up front. Obviously Bachman will be sent down and Pedan and Stecher will be duking it out for the 8th D spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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