Canucks are a Dark Horse

[Yung1]

The Canucks are a dark horse to do damage in the playoffs this year, and dare I say, possibly even win the cup. Hear me out...

Going into the series with Minnesota, the Canucks will have a completely healthy lineup. This combined with the Toffoli acquisition at the deadline, makes the Canucks Forward group one of, if not THE deepest in the league. Some experts have already said the the addition of Toffoli makes our Top 6 possibly the best in the league, and if Ferland can return after an extended break and play anything close to his potential, an argument could be made for our bottom 6 to be one of the best in the league as well.

Miller Pete Toffoli/Boeser - regardless of who's RW, this is one the top lines in the league. Personally I'd love to see the lotto line back together.
Pearson Bo Toffoli/Boeser - all 4 of these players were on pace for 25+ goals this year. This isn't a 2nd line. It's 1B.
Ferland - Gaudette - Virtanen - This line is a wildcard, but it's 3 players who play hard and fast who could thrive together in playoff hockey. If Ferly fails, slot in Leivo and you still have a solid checking line.
Leivo/Motte/Roussel/Beagle/Sutter/Loui/Macewen... - lots of options here. We'll certainly be okay if injury strikes our bottom 6. Roll with whoever looks good coming out of camp. Lots of these players could play 3rd line on some teams.

Our defense is where we're a bit thin, but what we have is formidable. In an ideal world we'd have a bit more high end talent in the top 4 and maybe an upgrade over Fanta/Benn, but we do have a solid group of 6 that can get the job done on most nights. They will struggle to shut down top talent, but with a strong forward group and a healthy Markstom, it's possible the deficiency could be offset.

Hughes - Tanev - Hughes was slowing down a bit around when the season ended. He looked notably tired, having played the most hockey he had in 1 season. The time off will rejuvenate him. Probably Tanev too, whom we must assume is playing injured at any given time.
Edler - Myers - This pair was split up, but played well together in the first half of the season. If they can return to their early season form, our defensive deficiency is a lot less of a problem
Fanta/Benn - Stetcher - Probably go Fanta over Benn. Middle of the pack bottom paring compared to the rest of the league imo.

Things are a bit thin if injury strikes, but it's possible someone like Rafferty could come in and be reminiscent of a young Chris Tanev circa 2011 playoffs.

Markstrom 
Demko

Goaltending is obviously the least of our worries with these 2. Markstrom can steal us games and can be a workhorse if needed. Demko is probably a top 30 goalie in the league at this point who can fill in if necessary.

This is a team that is lowkey deep and talented. They are young and inexperienced and that makes them a bit of a wildcard, but they're also a firey group that could catch a spark and run ablaze. They could surprise. 

What's your opinion? See poll above.

 

Edited July 10, 2020 by Yung1

[-AJ-]

While I think there's a chance we make a run, historical evidence of teams on the rise like ours suggests we'll lose a few times early in the playoffs before making a run. 

[Nave]

I think we can beat any team, but experience could be the difference in a series.

[-DLC-]

I feel that this team realizes they are capable of beating anyone and confidence is a huge factor.  With that, it can be a gruelling deal to do it in a series vs a game.

 

I try not to project because there are so many variables that come into play it makes it impossible.  I feel this team could win it, but it sets me up for disappointment if I concentrate there.  I try to just enjoy the ride...win or/and lose.

 

I'm just so excited to see hockey again.  Although playoffs are pretty special and this will be a new deal that won't have all the same feel to it, it's something.  Different but something.

 

I love the grind as teams beat each other up trying to get there in the stretch.  Survival of the fittest element will be missing to some degree.  They're all getting a fresh start at it, which could really play into our favour.

Petey admittedly broke down a bit at the end of the season....was a lot to adjust to the 82 game season.  He's chomping at the bit and that's scary good.  Quinn.  Brock.  Bo.  Marky.

[JeremyCuddles]

Definitely feel like this team could catch some teams by surprise. It all comes down to goalies getting hot for you at the right time. It's why some media types say it's scary that Montreal has a chance at playoffs. Since they have a goalie that can steal you games. 

 

I love Marky and feel like he's a top 10 goalie in the league. It'll be interesting how our young inexperienced forwards do though. This is why I loved that Toffoli trade so much. His experience, Pearson's experience and Miller's experience will be incredibly important. This team can go a round or two if Marky gets rolling. If our forward group matches that we could see something special this playoffs. With that said I am happy if we beat Minnie and give the first round team a hard fought 4/5 games (I am assuming the first round is 5 games).

[I.Am.Ironman]

With the time off the whole thing is so unpredictable.
 

A lot of people seem to be writing off the Wild which scares me. I think their D corps gives us trouble. This is also the first taste of playoffs for most of our key players, including markstrom. No fans in the arena may help that? Or maybe not. Impossible to predict. I voted lose to Wild to make myself feel better, though I think this team can beat any team.

 

[canuktravella]

our forwards and goalies are much better than wilds but our dcorp is not good enough fanta and stecher are a weak 3rd pairing hopefully next yr  we get juolevi tryamkin rathbone and rafferty getting at least a few looks 

[Phil_314]

We're probably dark horse in the sense that Marky has shown he can catch fire with the best of them, as can our scorers, but I wonder how much this time off would help or hinder our collective defensive awareness.  Part of the reason why I (and probably most of you guys) have had doubts was because this team was prone to defensive breakdowns against teams that can go right down Main Street and on Marky.  

Hopefully management has/ will make any moves they believe is necessary (e.g. splitting Fanta and Myers, shoring up the defensive scheme and running drills ad nauseaum to really have the system down pat in players' minds) and the players themselves are rested up so that they're more aware and alert vs. being occasionally sloppy due to physical or mental fatigue.  On the flip side, the guys could also become lax and the systems become like a thing of the past since they're not applying it as consistently or readily with only practices and maybe tape?  We'll have to see which D-core comes to play, and that could make a big difference.

[nux_win]

I voted for winning the Stanley Cup.  I mean why bother if you're not in it to win it?  And please don't call it the Covid Tourney or the Covid Cup.  It's the Stanley Cup, have a little more respect.  It's still going to take a massive effort to win it and whoever does will have earned it.  I hope it's the Canucks.  Go Canucks Go!

[Yung1]

1 hour ago, -AJ- said:

While I think there's a chance we make a run, historical evidence of teams on the rise like ours suggests we'll lose a few times early in the playoffs before making a run. 

 

1 hour ago, NaveJoseph said:

I think we can beat any team, but experience could be the difference in a series.

The thing is, JB's constructed a team of players that separately, do actually have a lot of experience. We have 5 players who have played in the Stanley Cup Finals in Edler, Tanev, Toffoli, Pearson, and Beagle. The number of "key" players (which I'll define as Top 9 Fwd/Top 4 D) that have Stanley Cup Finals experience is actually equal to the number of players who have zero playoff experience (5 of each, no playoff experience = Boeser, Petey, Virtanen, Hughes). EDIT: nvm forgot about gaudette lmao

Another variable is Marky, who also has no playoff experience, but I would put my money on him doing well. He's seemed to get better when the pressure is on this season.

I don't think success is by any means guaranteed, but I think if there was a prototype of a team that was built to surprise, it would look a lot like this one.

Edited July 10, 2020 by Yung1

[morgo]

There have definitely been a few games this season where this team has looked like a legitimate contender but the lack of playoff experience prevents me from thinking this is the year.  On the other hand, I could definitely see us resembling the 2009 Blackhawks in a surprise run to the conference finals, if Markstrom continues to play at an elite level.  At any rate, I'm just going to enjoy the ride.  Even if we lose the qualifier, we get a 1/8 shot at drafting a generational talent so whatever happens, it's win-win.

[Yung1]

15 minutes ago, nux_win said:

I voted for winning the Stanley Cup.  I mean why bother if you're not in it to win it?  And please don't call it the Covid Tourney or the Covid Cup.  It's the Stanley Cup, have a little more respect.  It's still going to take a massive effort to win it and whoever does will have earned it.  I hope it's the Canucks.  Go Canucks Go!

I used the term COVID tourny only because I had to find a way to describe the format including the extra series before it's technically the playoffs. Didn't mean to imply that whoever wins this year wins any less than any other team any other year.

Edited July 10, 2020 by Yung1

[Lancaster]

Lots of untested players on the roster plus a few proven veterans.  

Pettersson, Virtanen, Boeser, Gaudette, Hughes are untested with Horvat only been in the playoff in his rookie year.... but this is where young players prove they are legit contenders or playoff no-shows.  It wasn't that long ago when players like Toews, Keith, Kane, Seabrook were just a bunch of young players too green to be contenders.... only to stomp out both a veteran Flames team plus a cup-favourite Vancouver in 09, then eventually winning it all in 2010.  

 

Then there are veteran players who has been there and (almost) done that.  Edler and Tanev were integral in 2011, then there's Toffoli and Pearson winning the cups with LA, Beagle playing a defensive role with the Caps when they won the championship, JT Miller hopefully understanding the need to "step it up" for the playoffs, 

 

The Canucks are still a younger team and with speed.  As long they can wear down their opponents and push the pace, they should do well.  

[Patel Bure]

I fully agree that the Canucks, if fully healthy, are a legitimate dark horse.

 

The last time the Canucks had a fully healthy line-up, we destroyed Boston 9-3.   
 

It will be interesting to see how the Canucks do with their number one goalie back, along with Horvat finally getting a solid RW’er in the form of Boeser or Toffoli.  That 3rd line with Virtanen and Rousell should be solid as well, along with Beagle finally being used in a role that is compatible with his game (4th line).   If the Canucks can stay relatively healthy, I can definitely see them not only getting into the playoffs, but causing a 1st round upset.

[Pete M]

1 hour ago, Yung1 said:

 

The thing is, JB's constructed a team of players that separately, do actually have a lot of experience. We have 5 players who have played in the Stanley Cup Finals in Edler, Tanev, Toffoli, Pearson, and Beagle. The number of "key" players (which I'll define as Top 9 Fwd/Top 4 D) that have Stanley Cup Finals experience is actually equal to the number of players who have zero playoff experience (5 of each, no playoff experience = Boeser, Petey, Virtanen, Hughes). EDIT: nvm forgot about gaudette lmao

Another variable is Marky, who also has no playoff experience, but I would put my money on him doing well. He's seemed to get better when the pressure is on this season.

I don't think success is by any means guaranteed, but I think if there was a prototype of a team that was built to surprise, it would look a lot like this one.

fyi...JT played in the SCF with the Rangers, only played 4 games, but the next year they almost won the Eastern Finals (Rangers won 2 rounds), but lost in 7 games to Tampa in the East finals.

He also made it to the Eastern Conference finals with Tampa, who lost in 7 games to Washington.

 

JT has the 3rd most playoff experience on the team behind Beagle and Edler.

Edited July 10, 2020 by Pete M

[The Colt 45s]

We are building a championship culture.

[bishopshodan]

As long as our vets can keep our young'uns safe, we can win it all!

 

 

 

[Dumb Nuck]

1 hour ago, bishopshodan said:

As long as our vets can keep our young'uns safe, we can win it all!

 

 

 

Sadly We’re not very good at that.

[BertaNuck]

Having a fully healthy line up, and knowing loui will play over some one That could make a impact xas loui always seems to get the go over others really is frightening 

[bishopshodan]

1 hour ago, Dumb Nuck said:

Sadly We’re not very good at that.

You are right. Sadly.

 

Hope that trend does not continue.